Join our director, John Grimshaw for an informal walk in the arboretum.

You are guaranteed to discover something new and experience Spring in the arboretum like never before!

All welcome - no prior knowledge required. Booking is essential.

The event costs £10 to attend.

Please book your place via email on visit@yorkshirearboretum.org or phone 01653 648598

Back by popular demand…

October is the season for fungi. Join in the hunt for fungi around the arboretum, see what you can find and have your specimens identified by our expert, Malcolm Greaves.

Due to popular demand, Malcolm will be running two 2-hour walks this year (10am - 12pm / 1pm - 3pm)- please book to avoid disappointment!

Take a dusk walk in the arboretum armed with a bat detector and accompanied by expert Dr Barry Wright. The noises we pick up will help us identify the species that we find.

Please wrap up warmly and bring a torch!

Booking essential - Ticket Price £20

Join expert Rhona Sutherland for a talk followed by a fungi based foray into The Yorkshire Arboretum. She will then lead a display and identification session using microscopes based in our lab.

The course will provide an understanding of the importance, amazing diversity and beauty of fungi and increase awareness of the value of fungi in the environment and the need to conserve them.

The course will appeal to people of all levels of learning with an interest in fungi.

About the tutor: Rhona Sutherland is a teacher of Biology & Science in the UK, Kenya and Nepal. She studied a degree in Zoology and completed her Phd in the biology of obscure groups of deep sea Molluscs. She has been a Recorder for Ryedale Natural History Society since 2007.

Course fee: £110 including buffet lunch and refreshments.

Join our Director, John Grimshaw and our Head of Tree Health and Training, Ginette Alexander for an informal walk in the arboretum.

You are guaranteed to discover something new and experience summer in the arboretum like never before!

On this walk we also offer an opportunity to learn more about the pests and diseases we have in the arboretum.

All welcome - no prior knowledge required.

The event costs £5.

Please book your place below:

Follow our resident Dragonfly Expert Keith Gittens as he guides in learning about the 16 species of Dragonfly and Damselfly that occur in The Yorkshire Arboretum.

You may wish to bring your own binoculars if you have them.

Ticket Price: £20

The Yorkshire Arboretum will be celebrating UK Fungus day on the 7th October 2023 with a festival of fungi activities. The perfect way to spend an autumnal day in our 120 acres of trees, packed with fun(gi) for all the family.

Why not join us for one of our fungal forays around the arboretum with local experts (paid sessions and booking essential) or join the mycologists for one of the mini lab sessions throughout the day to discover the world of fungi under the microscope. There will be a mushroom trail for children along with art and craft activities and displays of posters, fun facts, ID guides and leaflets… make sure you grab a goody bag from the British Mycological Society while stocks last!

Ticket Price for Fungi Foray £20

Book a Fungi Foray:

The Yorkshire Arboretum is holding a series of evening events throughout the 2023 season. The first of these takes place in May and is an opportunity to experience the garden after hours and while the beautiful displays of camassia, other spring flowers and verdure are at their best. Join us for a gentle walk, talk and a glass of champagne. The evening in the garden event is followed by an optional two course supper at the Crown & Cushion in nearby Wellburn. Booking essential.

Member price: £20/ £45 including meal

Non Member price: £25 / £55 including meal

To Book Please Choose Below:

If you’re not already member, why not join? Find out more here.

Join us for a dawn chorus walk around the arboretum with expert Andy Chapman. Hear and spot the arboretum’s songbirds, then repair to the Visitor Centre for a complimentary breakfast roll and hot drink.

Booking Information

The Dawn Chorus Walks costs £20 to attend, including refreshments. Please book your place below.

A celebration of wildflowers. In recent years we’ve created large expanses of wildflower meadows to provide pollen and nectar for insects such as bumblebees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths. The meadows are glorious during spring and summer and, on sunny days, host clouds of butterflies.

Explore these meadows on a guided walk with expert Alastair Fitter who will help identify what we find.

The walk departs from the Visitor Centre. 

Walk Fee: £10

Please book your place below.

October is the season for fungi. Join in the hunt for fungi around the arboretum, see what you can find and have your specimens identified by our expert, Malcolm Greaves.

Due to popular demand, Malcolm will be running two 2-hour walks this year - please book to avoid disappointment!

Join our director, John Grimshaw, over a cup of coffee for an informal get-together followed by a walk under his expert guidance - you are guaranteed to discover something new and experience the arboretum like never before!

This event it free to members, but day visitors are welcome by general admission.

Book your place below:

Take a dusk walk in the arboretum armed with a bat detector and accompanied by expert Dr Barry Wright. The noises we pick up will help us identify the species that we find.

Please wrap up warmly and bring a torch!

Join Jonathan Pomroy for a day of sketching in the arboretum. The workshop will focus on how to enjoy using a sketchbook. The aim will be to have several pages of sketches in pencil or watercolour or both. Jonathan will demonstrate his sketching techniques at several locations. 

We will use the beautiful grounds of Yorkshire Arboretum, especially the lake area, to wander and sketch landscapes, birds, flowers or trees. The day will be very flexible allowing students to draw subjects which inspire them within an area Jonathan can be accessible to all.

He will guide students through the sketching process rather than concentrate on studio painting. He believes sketching can create a special record of time and place and that the process involves really immersing yourself in the natural world. There will be plans for really wet weather alternatives.

A light lunch will be provided.

This event is also taking place on Wednesday 17 August - for details please click here.

Equipment

• Watercolour paints and brushes of choice

• Good quality cartridge paper or watercolour paper sketchbook- A5 or bigger, landscape or portrait format depending on choice

• Range of pencils between HB-6B

• Water carrier

• Folding stool if desired

• Waterproofs

• Stout footwear

• Binoculars/ telescope if you want to sketch birds- optional

• Flask of tea or coffee if desired

• Shoulder bag or rucksack to carry equipment round

Join Jonathan Pomroy for a day of sketching in the arboretum. The workshop will focus on how to enjoy using a sketchbook. The aim will be to have several pages of sketches in pencil or watercolour or both. Jonathan will demonstrate his sketching techniques at several locations. 

We will use the beautiful grounds of Yorkshire Arboretum, especially the lake area, to wander and sketch landscapes, birds, flowers or trees. The day will be very flexible allowing students to draw subjects which inspire them within an area Jonathan can be accessible to all.

He will guide students through the sketching process rather than concentrate on studio painting. He believes sketching can create a special record of time and place and that the process involves really immersing yourself in the natural world. There will be plans for really wet weather alternatives.

A light lunch will be provided.

This event is also taking place on Wednesday 24 August - for details please click here.

Equipment

• Watercolour paints and brushes of choice

• Good quality cartridge paper or watercolour paper sketchbook- A5 or bigger, landscape or portrait format depending on choice

• Range of pencils between HB-6B

• Water carrier

• Folding stool if desired

• Waterproofs

• Stout footwear

• Binoculars/ telescope if you want to sketch birds- optional

• Flask of tea or coffee if desired

• Shoulder bag or rucksack to carry equipment round

Join our director, John Grimshaw, over a cup of coffee for an informal get-together followed by a walk under his expert guidance - you are guaranteed to discover something new and experience the arboretum like never before!

This event it free to members, but day visitors are welcome by general admission.

Book your place below:

Join our director, John Grimshaw, over a cup of coffee for an informal get-together followed by a walk under his expert guidance - you are guaranteed to discover something new and experience the arboretum like never before!

This event it free to members, but day visitors are welcome by general admission.

Book your place below:

An opportunity to join us for a dawn chorus walk around the arboretum with expert Andy Chapman. Hear and spot the arboretum’s songbirds, then repair to the Visitor Centre for a complimentary breakfast roll and hot drink.

This event is now fully booked.

An opportunity to join us for a dawn chorus walk around the arboretum with expert Jonathan Pomroy. Hear and spot the arboretum’s songbirds, then repair to the Visitor Centre for a complimentary breakfast roll and hot drink.

This event is now fully booked.

Join our director, John Grimshaw, over a cup of coffee for an informal get-together followed by a walk under his expert guidance - you are guaranteed to discover something new and experience the arboretum like never before!

This event it free to members, but day visitors are welcome by general admission.

Fully booked

In this unique workshop with Rebecca Rowan, founder of Mindful Photography UK, spend the day exploring the Yorkshire Arboretum and experience the restorative power of nature. Enjoy a day of fully-guided tasks and discussions to help support you on your own mindful journey.

Rebecca said: “Taking photographs and sharing them in a group setting allows us to be curious about ourselves, each and our environment.”

These photography projects are accessible and aimed at adults with any levels of ability or photographic equipment. You can use any device you have: A camera, smartphone or tablet. The session is not about photographic tuition however you will notice your images will naturally improve as you slow down, take notice and practise.

At the end of the session you can join a private Facebook group and continue to share your images with a locally-based community of online mindful photographers.

What you need:

• Pen and paper

• Blank journal or notepad

• Fully-charged device or camera with plenty of storage space

Lunch will be provided - please provide any dietary requirements when you book.

Join in the hunt for fungi around the arboretum, see what you can find and get your specimens identified by our expert, Malcolm Greaves.

Will it be colourful, will it be unusual, who knows?

Book your place below.

THIS EVENT IS FULLY BOOKED

Take a dusk walk in the arboretum armed with a bat detector and accompanied by expert Amy Carrick. The noises we pick up will help us identify the species that we find.

Please wrap up warmly and bring a torch!

This event is fully booked.

Join Artist-in-Residence Jonathan Pomroy for a day of sketching in the arboretum. The course will focus on how to enjoy using a sketchbook. The aim will be to have several pages of sketches in pencil or watercolour or both. Jonathan will demonstrate his sketching techniques at several locations. 

We will use the beautiful grounds of Yorkshire Arboretum, especially the lake area, to wander and sketch landscapes, birds, flowers or trees. The day will be very flexible allowing students to draw subjects which inspire them within an area Jonathan can be accessible to all.

He will guide students through the sketching process rather than concentrate on studio painting. He believes sketching can create a special record of time and place and that the process involves really immersing yourself in the natural world. There will be plans for really wet weather alternatives.

A light lunch will be provided.

Equipment

• Watercolour paints and brushes of choice

• Good quality cartridge paper or watercolour paper sketchbook- A5 or bigger, landscape or portrait format depending on choice

• Range of pencils between HB-6B

• Water carrier

• Folding stool if desired

• Waterproofs

• Stout footwear

• Binoculars/ telescope if you want to sketch birds- optional

• Flask of tea or coffee if desired

• Shoulder bag or rucksack to carry equipment round

This event is fully booked.

Join our director to look at trees in winter, concentrating on those planting in 1979 when the arboretum was started. See how well they’ve done in their forty years. Celebrate National Tree Week with us and discover something new about this glorious place.

Normal admission applies. To book your place, please call 01653 648598 or email visit@yorkshirearboretum.org

Join our director and expert plantsman, John Grimshaw, for a day course exploring our pines and other conifers. John will show you how to identify some of our pines, discuss their origins, and advise on the best species for your garden, whether large or small, the best time to plant them and how to care for them.

This event is now sold out.

Not sure how to plant your trees and shrubs? Do you know the best conditions to help your plantings prosper? It can be daunting. Join John Grimshaw and other experts from the Yorkshire Arboretum to learn the best techniques and timings for planting.

Normal admission applies. Booking required: Please call 01653 648598 or email visit@yorkshirearboretum.org to reserve your place.