More colour than ever (From Gazette Series)

More colour than ever

VISITORS to one of the region's top tourist attractions are now able to marvel at a large number of spectacular new trees.

The National Arboretum at Westonbirt is already famous for its fabulous autumn colour, which this year will be better than ever, thanks to the launch of the new Rotary Glade.

The attraction is the result of a joint initiative between Westonbirt Arboretum and the South Cotswolds Rotary Club.

More than 100 of the new trees were donated by Rotary clubs throughout Great Britain and Ireland to mark the centenary of the Rotary movement.

The trees in the new glade in Silk Wood were specifically chosen from cultivars that were not already part of Westonbirt's collection. They will form part of the existing National Japanese Maple Collection and have been carefully sourced from around the world.

The Rotary Glade was created by skilfull thinning, using traditional methods where possible, including horses specially trained in forest clearance.

It will allow visitors to take a leisurely stroll on level ground between Oak Avenue and Broad Drive, where the dramatic foliage colour changes to hot fuschia, orange, red and yellow and is set among the elegant larches.

Westonbirt's curator Simon Toomer said: "The new glade is internationally significant as the first step towards creating the world's best collection of maples.

"One of the great things about having worked with the Rotary is that they have great vision. It is very significant that they are celebrating their centenary and that these trees are the vision of the next 100 years.

"Our objective with the glade was to capture the atmosphere and the colour of this particular part of Westonbirt."

Ken Corrigan, district governor for Rotary said: "We are all very proud of this project."