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The National Arboretum
CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY OF TREES AT WESTONBIRT
Westonbirt Arboretum's Festival of the Tree, 23 - 30 August 2010
From 23 to 30 August, Westonbirt - the National Arboretum, which is managed by the Forestry Commission, will welcome 12 talented sculptors, host over 130 craftspeople and offer tree-discovering family activities as part of its signature summer event, the Festival of the Tree.
The sculptors will take up their chainsaws and chisels for 'Sculptree' element of the festival, which sees around 24 tonnes of sustainably felled wood recycled from the Westonbirt estate transformed into elegant works of art.
The finished pieces will be auctioned on bank holiday Monday in support of Tree Aid, the UK's only forestry-based development charity. Using money raised from the Sculptree auctions, Tree Aid enables communities in Africa to work with their environments to become self reliant and fight poverty.
Returning to the event this year is Stroud-based sculptor Dan Hunt, whose stag beetle creation 'Massive Attack' broke auction records in 2009 and sold for £6,200.
From Friday 27 to Bank Holiday Monday, stalls stacked with crafts, furniture, sculpture and jewellery will fill the site to create the festival's Exhibitree woodcrafts weekend. Family activities, trails, tree team demonstrations and woodworking workshops will take place and some of the country's best craftspeople will gather to demonstrate their skills.
During the weeklong celebration of trees, family activities and Westonbirt's very own 'Laboratree' tipi will explore the 2010 International Year of Diversity. For the first time, kids go free during August, giving the perfect excuse for families to visit and find how trees, like people, are all different from one another.
The Festival of the Tree is open from 9am-5pm. From 23 to 26 August, admissions are adults £8, concessions £7 and children go free (18 years and under). From Friday 27 August to bank holiday Monday, adult admission is £10, concessions £9 and children go free. Visit www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt for more information.
Westonbirt Arboretum is three miles south west of Tetbury on the A433 (Tetbury to Bath Road). It is 10 miles north east of Junction 18 of the M4, and south-east of junction 13 of the M5.
NOTES
Connect with Westonbirt in a new way through the Forestry Commission's Live Music concerts - Status Quo, James Morrison and Blondie tickets still available. Visit www.forestry.gov.uk/music 1. Tree Aid is the UK's only forestry focused development charity providing funding and on-the-ground training and support to local organisations in the Sahel of Africa. Tree Aid is enabling communities in Africa's drylands to fight poverty and become self-reliant, while improving the environment. Tree Aid's work, which also strengthens villagers' resilience to the impact of climate change, has never been more important. More information at www.treeaid.org.uk.
2. Westonbirt - the National Arboretum is part of the Forestry Commission estate and is renowned worldwide for its tree and shrub collection. Home to the National Japanese Maple (Acer) collection, the National Arboretum covers 243 hectares (600 acres) and contains 16,000 specimens. Visitor numbers are 350,000 a year, with a membership of 23,000. Westonbirt Arboretum was established in the 1850s by wealthy landowner Robert Holford, and later developed by his son George Holford. Unlike many arboreta, Westonbirt is laid out according to aesthetic appeal rather than scientific or geographical criteria.
3. The Forestry Commission is the government department responsible in England for protecting, expanding and promoting the sustainable management of woods and forests and increasing their value to society and the environment. Further information can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk
4. Westonbirt - the National Arboretum is part of the Westonbirt Heritage Partnership, which consists of the Forestry Commission, Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum, Westonbirt School and the Holfords of Westonbirt Trust. The Partnership plans to reconnect the historic Westonbirt estate, conserve its unique heritage and inspire future visitors through the Westonbirt Project, supported by The Heritage Lottery Fund.
5. The Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum was formed in 1985. The charity's objects are to support the National Arboretum in promoting public understanding of the crucial role of trees to the environment and society. It is funded by membership receipts from 23,000 members, other fundraising, and the use of the Great Oak Hall for events and activities.
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