Arley Arboretum and Gardens is one of those special places that not a lot of people know exists, yet, and it is a real treasure for those who love ancient trees, woodlands and tranquillity.

It was a man called George Annesley (1770-1844, 2nd Earl of Mountnorris) who gave birth to what we see today. In 1779 he inherited the estate and although there were some resident trees that were considered quite respectable, it was his interest in botany and travel that lead to the development of the property.

The arboretum has a list of the estate’s 10 top trees which have been selected by John Bulmer, a dendrologist (a person who studies and dates trees!). Mr Bulmer’s list is based on special trees either for their size and diameter or for their age, he gives you the Latin and common names, the trees number, and any interesting facts about the tree species.

There are so many wonderful trees on the property so where do you start to pick a favourite? We will go with one of their most unusual, not because of its species, but because of the way it has matured. A Common Beech has been cultivated to so wherever its branches have touched the soil, it has secured itself to the ground, thus developing a sprawling nature covering ¼ acre!

The area has perfect growing conditions for a number of evergreens which have all grown to impressive size-pines, firs, spruces, cedars, sequoias, hemlocks. For the avid woodsman it is a joy to see the various needle formations, the variety of pine cones and to hear the wind whisper thru the needles high above us. There is a Corsican Pine which is reputed to be one of the highest in the world. A Western Yellow Pine is noted as being 4th highest in Britain and is a survivor from its transport from the USA in 1826. A Crimean Pine also holds a record for circumference of 16ft. 7 ins.when last measured.

Currently new planting is taking place on the grounds and in other areas regeneration is being undertaken, if a specimen is lost.

From the car park on you will see trees planted in the parkland and in the arboretum which are numbered and all have their common name, Latin name and many have additional information about the use of the tree, its fruits/flowers/wood and origin.

You start the tour in the walled gardens. A map is provided to follow which includes a listing of the 10 most important trees and areas to visit, so you don’t miss anything special. There is a café near the entrance and plant sales are across the path along the walls.

There are special areas of planting in addition to the tree collection:

The Italian Garden is enclosed within the garden walls and has 3 different shaped pools, water lilies, planted urns, fountain, sundial, dovecote, limes on 2 sides of the garden and the scent of lavender filling the air.

As you walk past the greenhouses which are growing various plants and vegetables, you will be heading towards a small orchard of apples and pears and to the right is a croquet lawn where one can play croquet with the actual set owned by Mr. Turner.

There are beds of perennials and espalier apples on the walls.

Through the next garden wall opening is the picnic area and aviary. The children will love this enclosed space which also has fruit trees and grape vines. There are picnic tables and pens of exotic fowl, pheasants, quail, and guinea hens, in the spring there are babies of all colours and description taking dust baths and chirping happily.

Across the path from the Aviary Garden is the Magnolia Garden where you will find huge very old magnolia trees inter-planted with hydrangeas and various acers, if you find the bird bath, you will find a lovely shady spot to sit on the bench in the clipped yew shelter (roof and walls included). You can proceed thru the yew arch into the arboretum or retrace you steps and come out in the camellia avenue.

The arboretum walk is a level, easy walk on paving slabs or grass paths, quite easily manoeuvrable with a wheelchair or push chair, benches are placed throughout the grounds for quiet contemplation. It is here that you meet the real old inhabitants of Arley-a Wellingtonia planted in 1860 which is 21 ft. around and 145 ft. high, a Cedar of Lebanon planted in 1820(since they can live up to 2000 years this is a youngster in Cedar years, but old enough in human terms). Did you know it takes 2 years for their cones to ripen? When you see the sign for the well, you will walk through a pergola and you will see the Common Beech with its spreading limbs which are said to cover 1/4 acre. First you will see the bog garden with the bamboo which came from Kew and if you turn around you will see the well behind a cast iron gate.

The grounds are open and safe for children to wander about without harm. Dogs are allowed on leashes and water is available by the café.

This is not just a site for the adult or the botanist, those with no knowledge and children can enjoy it equally as well. It would be fun if you let the children look for as many varieties of pine cones as they could find or if the went around reading the boards to find out the various uses of the trees like the American Sugar Maple to make maple syrup; the True Service Tree flavours beer; how many types of fruit trees can they find; what tree has the name of a spring flower-Tulip; what tree has nuts you roast of an open fire at Christmas-the Sweet Chestnut and how different does it look from a conker tree-The Horse Chestnut?; can they find the mistletoe- it’s in 5 varieties of trees, probably the Lime Tree by the churchyard is the most easily visible. There’s no reason to be bored as you walk about, when you are looking up, you will most likely be finding birdlife as well and in the more wooded areas, you could even see the wild pheasants sunning themselves.

The grounds have a peaceful tranquillity to them, yet in the background you can hear the steam engines of the Severn Valley Railway coming and going across the river at Arley Station.

You can get a good view of the River Severn, the steam trains and the countryside from the Severn View area of the gardens or from the churchyard.

As I walked around the grounds I found that many people make a regular trip to the arboretum to watch it change through the seasons, some come for an afternoon tea or to relax on a Sunday and read the paper. The season pass system makes this option of having your own special place to chill out.

Autumn will be full of colour with the turning leaves. Winter will have feature trees which turn statuesque as they drop their leaves, while the evergreens and mistletoe will give you the holiday spirit. Spring sports snowdrops and bulbs and bluebells followed by the rhododendrons and camellias, while the summer has the perennials, the fruits and grapes getting fuller and ripening, new growth on all the trees, new trees being planted and baby birds all giving one the promise of a new future in the making.