If you’re looking for something a little bit different to keep the kids entertained this summer, why not head for the trees of Westonbirt, The National Arboretum and see if your family has what it takes to be the next great plant hunters?
As part of their summer activities this August, Forestry England has today announced their new ‘Plant Hunter’s Academy’; an exciting summer programme that will have the whole family putting their skills of speed, observation, navigation and fun to the test to see if they can join the ranks of the world’s greatest plant explorers!
As soon as they enter the arboretum budding hunters will be able to pick up a free ‘Plant Hunter’s Academy Pack’ from the Information Point. The pack has everything families need to set out on their adventure throughout the arboretum, including:
- A plant hunter’s journal and pencil
- A craft activity to complete at home
- Stickers
- A ‘Plant Hunter of the Week’ biography sheet
Every week the packs will have different information featuring some of the world’s most famous plant hunters, including David Douglas, Ernest Wilson, Marianne North, and of course today’s Westonbirt Tree Team.
Once kitted out with their activity pack, the whole family will be able to set out together on a journey through the trees to discover whether they have what it takes to be a great plant hunter. Following clues to different locations throughout the arboretum, they will be challenged to complete activities to test their plant hunter skills, including speed, perseverance, navigation, and global adventuring.
Chris Meakin, Forestry England’s Learning Supervisor at Westonbirt Arboretum said,‘When our founder Robert Holford was planting the arboretum in the 1800s, he financed plant hunting trips all over the world, and placed the rare, remarkable and beautiful trees the plant hunters brought back in the arboretum. Without the work of plant hunters the arboretum would look very different, and some of the species that are favourites with our visitors, including the famous Acers that provide us with our world-famous autumn colour, might not be part of our landscape. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to discover the important contribution these people made to the arboretum and the wider British landscape – and have tonnes of fun while doing it!’
Plant hunter packs and activities will be available from the Information Point at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum throughout August and are free after admission to the arboretum.
Admission prices to the arboretum in August are:
Adult: £11
Students & Job Seekers: £7
Child (5 – 18 years): £4 (under 5s go free)
In order to keep staff, visitors and volunteers safe during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic Forestry England has reduced the number of people it can welcome at any one time to the arboretum and has introduced a new pre-booking system. Before they come, arboretum visitors will need to pre-book their tickets at the Forestry England website, this also applies to members of the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum.
