Seasonal leaflet at Westonbirt Arboretum

Family following a map in the forest

Seasonal leaflet at Westonbirt Arboretum

Download seasonal leaflet PDF

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Welcome to Westonbirt, the National Arboretum

Originally planted by the wealthy Holford family during the heyday of Victorian plant hunting, today Westonbirt contains one of the finest tree collections in the world.

The arboretum is carefully laid out within a beautiful, Grade 1 picturesque landscape, and there is something amazing to experience every day of the year.

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Autumn at Westonbirt

Prepare to be dazzled by nature’s final breathtaking kaleidoscope of colour before winter. Take in the sweet scent of the candyfloss tree; explore the delicate, rattling fruits of our national collection of bladdernuts; feel the soft inside of a sweet chestnut husk; jump and crunch through leaves…

Autumn really is a feast for all the senses!

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Perfectly Imperfect

Inspired by our national collection of Japanese maple cultivars, we invite you on a journey of reconnection, to experience the arboretum through the lens of Japanese aesthetic concepts.

The Perfectly Imperfect trail, in Silk Wood, brings you nine Japanese concepts that offer a different perspective to the rainbow of colour currently taking centre stage.

Follow the trail, to explore how these concepts can encourage us to look beyond the surface, reconnect and find deeper meaning in nature.

Thanks to Yuko Marchant for her guidance with the trail.

The trail route is on the map.

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Trail information

This trail is in Silk Wood, and takes you around the best of our autumn views in this area.

The trail is around 2 miles long. There are places to take short cuts, and plenty of benches along the route.

All stops are on hard paths, and easily accessible.

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Magic of Maples Haiku Competition

Earlier this year, we partnered with the British Haiku Society to host a haiku competition, on the theme of Magic of Maples, celebrating maple species from Japan, Europe, Canada and beyond!

We received hundreds of entries from all over the world, and these were judged by an international panel of experts.

Find out more about the competition and see the winning entries in our outdoor exhibition on The Downs, on the path towards the restaurant. The location is on the map overleaf.

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Highlights for your visit today

Use the map overleaf for locations

  • Discover the tree canopy on our Treetop Walkway
  • Find out how we grow the next generation at the Propagation Unit
  • Explore centuries of history at the coppice charcoal kilns
  • Learn how we replanted an area of Silk Wood following the discovery of ash dieback
  • Delve deeper on a free guided walk (ask at admissions)
  • Ask, at the Welcome Building, which trees are looking their best right now
  • Head into our deep dark Gruffalo wood…who will you find?
  • Ask at the Welcome Building about our autumn family trail, play map and family activities!

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Alternative formats

We are trialling the use of QR codes to access alternative formats of this leaflet, and the Perfectly Imperfect trail.

Scan the QR code on this leaflet, or on the trail panels, with your smartphone camera or a QR scanner app. This will take you to a Forestry England webpage, where you can access:

• an audio version of the text (select ‘Listen in browser’)

• a downloadable PDF 

• webpage text, compatible with your device’s read-aloud features

We welcome your feedback to help improve accessibility across the site. Please speak to staff in the Welcome Building or complete a comment form.

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A bite to eat

Westonbirt has a variety of catering space.

The Kitchen provides a sit-down service in a relaxed atmosphere, offering breakfast, brunch and lunch showcasing fresh, seasonal dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.

The Pantry offers a convenient grab-and-go selection of freshly made sandwiches, homemade cakes, freshly baked sausage rolls and seasonal baked goods, locally produced ice cream and quality drinks, with a focus on local produce and artisan suppliers.

The Smokehouse serves a delicious BBQ-inspired menu at weekends, bank holidays and throughout school holidays, celebrating locally sourced meats and seasonal ingredients.

Takeaway coffees and snacks are available at the Welcome Building. Other takeaway food outlets will be available during our peak autumn period.

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Coming up this winter!

  • Experience a magical winter wonderland on our enchanting illuminated trail this Christmas! 
  • Join Witch and her friends on a new Room on the Broom Christmas themed trail throughout winter.
  • Get involved in fun activities for all during February half term.

For more detail, visit: www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirt/events

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Upgrade your day to a year

Sign up as a member in the Welcome Building or Shop before you leave today to unlock a Westonbirt Shop gift card.

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Visit our gift shop

Every penny you spend in the gift shop helps to protect trees and enrich lives for generations to come.

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