Their future in our hands
With the world famous Westonbirt autumn on its way, and the arboretum coming to life in a rich, blaze of colour, it's the perfect time to spare a thought for trees!
Amidst all the magnificent autumnal colours and shapes on show this season, it’s an ideal time to pause and think about the plight of some of the world’s trees.
We cannot exist without nature and the ecosystems that support life itself.
Trees and woodland ecosystems in particular provide clean air, offer protection from flooding, and store carbon; all of this vital in the fight against climate change and to sustain life on earth.
However, it’s a fact that globally, one in three trees are threatened with extinction in the wild. Their future is in our hands.
This autumn we shine a spotlight on what we are doing to care for the trees at Westonbirt, how they are also protected in the wild, how they cope with climate change and how we are working with tree experts around the world to protect and conserve trees.
Autumn Watch videos
You will soon be able to find out how the arboretum is looking each week this autumn by playing our autumn watch video!
For now, we look back at last autumn's colour with this film made on 30 October 2023. From mid September we will start filming and sharing this year's autumn colour.
Visit our channels every week for a new autumn watch video update.
Get involved with protecting the future of trees - explore our autumn trail and write your pledge for trees!
Get creative - find the best autumn scene you can and try some mindful photography.
Autumn is arriving at world famous Westonbirt, the National Arboretum. The days are getting shorter, the air that bit cooler which means the native and exotic trees in the arboretum will be coming to life in a rich, blaze of colour.
The diversity and vibrancy of leaf colours to be found at Westonbirt are unsurpassed in Britain. Combine this with fruits, hips and berries in profusion, and you have the makings of a botanical experience like no other.
A must for any visit over the autumn is Acer Glade in the Old Arboretum and Maple Loop in Silk Wood. Westonbirt Arboretum holds the national collection for maples and autumn is the time to see them in all their breathtaking glory!
