Yesterday, Ryoma and I spent a wonderfully chilly evening at Westonbirt Arboretum, walking the Enchanted Christmas illuminated tree trail. Each year a new one-mile route is chosen, so that visitors can experience different areas of the arboretum. There are refreshment and gift stalls set up just before the start of the trail, and the Westonbirt shop is open too, so you can grab a bite to eat or a pair of new wellies (which are very handy on the soggy paths) before exploring the illuminations. The country is bracing itself for an extremely cold festive season; if you do take the opportunity to visit this year, don't forget your ear muffs, hat and warm winter boots... you'll need them! We wrapped up warm, but still managed to lose all feeling in our feet and faces.
Westonbirt Arboretum was created by Robert Stayner Holford (1808 - 1892) in the mid nineteenth century. The Victorians had a passion for plants and travelled the globe in order to bring exotic species back home to Britain. Being a very wealthy fellow, Holford could afford to finance plant hunting expeditions, and some of the plants brought back from such trips are still at Westonbirt today. The arboretum was extended across the valley and into the Silk Wood area by Holford's son, George, in the late nineteenth century. It was requisitioned by the Air Ministry during the Second World War and was apparently used to hide British fighter planes. In 1956, the arboretum (all six hundred acres of it) was handed over to the Forestry Commission, who have taken care of it ever since. Home to 16,000 trees (2,500 different species), it is one of the most important arboretums in the world.
It's a magical place. But don't take my word for it; go and see for yourself! The Enchanted Christmas event runs until the 23rd December this year and takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. For more information visit the Westonbirt Arboretum web site.