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Friends of BedgeburyMagazine Issue 8Autumn/Winter2016 www.bedgeburypinetum.org.uk
£1 Free to members
Welcomeby Katherine JaryWe all love Bedgebury, but I’m certain that our reasons for doing so differ. The Friends’ charitable objectives focus on the Pinetum, tree knowledge and tree conservation, but we know that this is only a small part of the story of Bedgebury. To achieve our objectives, we want to celebrate everything that is special about Bedgebury, and especially the Pinetum, and to let everyone know that it is more than just an internationally important and unique tree collection.
The Pinetum makes our job really easy! It is an extraordinary place. Framed by its majestic conifer specimens, the Pinetum is also full of wonderful broadleaf tree favourites creating a woodland environment that is home to a huge array of rare and endangered flora and fauna; from our elusive grizzled skipper (Pyrgus malvae) to the now emblematic firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla), the delicate English eyebright (Euphrasia anglica) to the bold and beautiful violet webcap (Cortinarius violaceus). The list of rare or nationally important species at Bedgebury is a long and exciting one.
Friends of BedgeburyMagazine Issue 8Autumn/Winter2016
Cover:
Common toad (Bufo bufo).
Despite the rain and wind, our visiting public and wildlife experts weren’t deterred at this year’s 48-hour Bedgebury BioBlitz! The experts, once again, added an enormous amount to our understanding of Bedgebury’s unique wildlife composition.
However, it was our citizen scientists who recorded the site’s reptiles at this year’s BioBlitz. It’s always nice to find amphibians on site as they are having a tough time of it, being in decline both in the UK and globally. Common toads, which are not quite so common these days, were found on both Bedgebury BioBlitz days.
www.bedgeburypinetum.org.uk
Editor: Katherine Jary.
Proof Readers: Elspeth Hill, Rachel Mason and John Gordon.
Contributing Photographers: Luke Wallace, Sue Buckingham, Ian Beavis, Mark Clixby, Mina McPhee and David Jenner.
Contributing Florilegium Artists: Sandra Fernandez, Helen Hiorns, Pearl Bostock and Julia Groves.
Design: Fraser Allen.
Printed on FSC certified paper.
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This magazine is free to members. However, a donation of 40p would pay for the cost of printing it. A donation of £1 would enable us to raise funds for something you love at Bedgebury.
Welcome 1
Editor’s Letter 2
What is a BioBlitz? 4
Conservation in Action 6
The Gruffalo at Bedgebury 7
Some Wild Flowers at Bedgebury 10
Events and Activities 14
The Sport of Canicross at Bedgebury 20
Bees at Bedgebury 22
The Old Man of Kent 24
Pine Cones 26
Another Flower in our Bouquet 28
Our Partners 30
Membership Information 32
Looking for Gift Ideas? 33
Grizzled skipper (Pyrgus malvae)
Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla)
English eyebright (Euphrasia anglica)
Violet webcap (Cortinarius violaceus)
In this edition we will celebrate the stories from August’s BioBlitz; an event which served to showcase Bedgebury’s biodiversity in all its glory. With so many successful BioBlitz events now having taken place all over the country, some of which were featured on the BBC’s Springwatch earlier this year, we hope that this event will become a permanent fixture in the Bedgebury calendar. Keep an eye on our website for details of the next BioBlitz planned for 2017/18!
If you Love Bedgebury, and wish to support and promote the site’s biodiversity and conservation efforts, there are a myriad of ways you can help. Donate to the Friends, become a member, attend an
event or sponsor a signature tree, Pinetum bench or new mosaic block, and you will be able to make your mark at Bedgebury. Visit
www.bedgeburypinetum.org.uk to find out more!
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Editor’s Letterby Katherine Jary
‘... And it is that range of biodiversity that we must care for - the whole thing - rather than just one or two stars.’David Attenborough in Victoria Martindale’s ‘Is it worth saving the world’s most worthless species?’, IUCN.
At Bedgebury, the work undertaken in the Pinetum does, inevitably, seem to focus on only one star of the plant world, the conifer. However, whilst at Bedgebury our principal purpose is to collect the seed of threatened conifer species and to propagate those that might survive our temperate climate, our tree expertise is sought by organisations all over the world, with seed from all sorts of rare or endangered plant species collected on our collaborative expeditions. Not only has Bedgebury made the news with the propagation of the conifer, Xanthocyparis vietnamensis, but also the critically endangered Japanese birch, Betula chichibuensis. However, there is
more to our work than just this. In doing our work in the Pinetum, a glorious landscape containing several BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) designated landscapes, we are doing much more to promote biodiversity and conservation than our work with conifers suggests. DEFRA has defined our ‘Lowland dry acid grassland’, ‘Purple moor grass and rush pastures’ and ‘European dry heath’ habitats, and their associated species, as some of the most threatened in the UK. By protecting the Pinetum and promoting a conservation message therein, we are doing our bit to protect the important range of biodiversity in these rare habitats.
This August, the Pinetum played host to a BioBlitz, a wildlife-recording event that succeeded in showcasing the Pinetum and its extraordinary biodiversity. The purpose of the BioBlitz process is explained by ecologist Luke Wallace, on pages 4 to 5, along with details of some of the most notable finds by our citizen scientists and biological recorders. On pages 10 to 13 and pages 22 to 23 respectively, botanist Sue Buckingham and invertebrate specialist Ian Beavis, share some of the Pinetum’s special bee and wild flower finds from the summer. For our younger readers, on pages 7 to 9 we take a light-hearted look at the role of the Gruffalo in the biodiversity of British woodland environments as ecologist, Emma Brown, introduces us to the real creatures behind the book and explores their lives at Bedgebury. For those who enjoyed seeing our botanic artists, Bedgebury’s Florilegium, in action during the
BioBlitz, on pages 28 to 29 we explain the origins of our Florilegium and the important role they play at Bedgebury.
No Friends’ magazine or biodiversity theme would be complete without Bedgebury’s conifer conservation stories and unusual conifer facts. Find out how maths makes its way into the Pinetum on pages 26 to 27 and read our tribute, on pages 24 to 25, to the Old Man of Kent, sadly felled this summer. We hope that, in time, some of the grand fir seeds collected in the USA last year will grow to replace the Old Man. To help members understand the importance of the Friends-funded, Bedgebury-led 2015 USA expedition, we gave them the chance, in March, to hear about the expedition from two of the team’s intrepid explorers, the Forestry Commission’s Dan Luscombe and the Friends’ Luke Wallace. On page 6, two of the Friends’ members who attended the event explain how they feel about their Bedgebury membership as a result of this inside view of the Pinetum’s conservation work.
On pages 14 to 18 you can find a complete list of our events this autumn and winter, including details of this year’s Christmas tree sales and festive activities on page 17. We also have a feature on pages 20 to 21 from parkrun Canicross runner and regular dog-walker, Jenny Lee, on why she thinks Bedgebury is the perfect place for runners and dog lovers all year round.
With wider conservation objectives in mind, and a desire to support all things tree-related, the Friends continue to promote and support all the Pinetum’s flora and fauna. Whether or not conifer conservation is your first love, we believe that there is something in the Pinetum to enthuse and engage all our members and visitors. We will continue to support and promote everything the Pinetum has to offer with events, activities and news stories to help everyone understand the role of Bedgebury and the importance of our tree collection.
To read Victoria Martindale’s article follow this link to the IUCN website:
http://www.iucn.org/content/it-worth-saving-world%E2%80%99s-most-worthless-species
If you want to do your bit for biodiversity, supporting Bedgebury and the work of the Pinetum with your time as a volunteer, your membership, or a sponsorship or donation, can make a difference.
We hope that by understanding a little more about the extraordinary Pinetum environment, our members can work with us to protect it, by redirecting cyclists to the forest, protecting flora and fauna from damage (intentional or otherwise) and encouraging dog owners to keep their dogs on leads in the Pinetum. We are protecting far more than just the trees in this lovely space and your help really makes a difference. Come along to the next Bedgebury BioBlitz in 2017/18 to join the fun and find out more!
Pinetum BAP Habitat Map
Key:
Purple moor grass and rush pasture
Lowland dry acid grassland
European dry heath
Semi-improved lowland meadow
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What is a BioBlitz?by Luke Wallace
Anyone who was on site in August, will know that Bedgebury held a successful and engaging BioBlitz event… but what exactly is a BioBlitz and what are the benefits?
‘Bio’ (life) and ‘Blitz’ (to do something quickly and intensively) together make ‘BioBlitz’, a collaborative race against the clock to discover as many species of plants, animals and fungi as possible, within a set location and over a defined time period (typically 24 hours). Such events usually involve a group of scientists, students and naturalists who work together with members of the public to record the species they find.
First developed by Sam Droege in the USA in 1996, BioBlitz events are now held regularly in many countries and have been taking place in the UK since 2006 (coordinated by the Bristol Natural History Consortium as part of the National BioBlitz Network). BioBlitz events have gained international recognition as an exciting way to encourage the exploration of our natural spaces and offer an informal, fun way to create a snapshot of the variety of life that can be found in an area whilst providing an opportunity for participants to share their expertise and enthusiasm for nature. Importantly, a BioBlitz can help to break down the barriers that exist to engagement with science by giving the public an opportunity to contribute to a genuine scientific survey.
During the May 2014 Bedgebury BioBlitz, over 400 wildlife records were noted in a 24-hour period. This year, our 48-hour BioBlitz was well attended and yielded some exciting finds of both flora and fauna despite the intermittent rain and wind which tried to mar the two days.
Highlights from August included:
BioBlitz events allow us to recognise and share the fact that the Pinetum is not only an internationally important tree collection but also harbours a unique composition of wildlife that is just as special as the trees themselves. Only by understanding Bedgebury’s biodiversity can we help to conserve it.
If you want to learn more about the Pinetum and its trees and wildlife, come along to the next Bedgebury BioBlitz planned for 2017/18. Or why not join one of our Pinetum-based walks or talks? Take a look at pages 14 to 18 for our autumn / winter schedule of events. Profits made by the Friends from such events are used to support conservation projects in the Pinetum.
For a more detailed review of the BioBlitz visit the wildlife blog on our website: www.bedgeburypinetum.org.uk/pinetum/wildlife
Early morning bird ringing provided an opportunity to get up close to a marsh tit, a red listed bird on the British Trust for Ornithology’s list of Birds of Conservation Concern.
The sea of lilac created by devil’s-bit scabious was spectacular while locally rare English eyebright, golden-rod and dodder were all recorded on site
The experts were awed by an aerial display of bats as they scooped insects off the lakes. Common pipistrelle, soprano Pipistrelle, brown long-eared, noctule, natterer’s and daubenton bats were all seen or heard
Acinia corniculata, a nationally endangered fruit fly, about whom little is known in the UK
Cychrus caraboides, a specialist snail-hunting beetle with a thin, elongated head designed to penetrate snails’ shells
The monochromatic markings of the black arches moth
Mno
lf /
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The Gruffalo at Bedgeburyby Emma BrownMany of our readers will be familiar with the endearing characters in the Gruffalo story. The journey of the intrepid Mouse and (spoiler alert!) his meeting with the Gruffalo is brought to life by Julia Donaldson’s storytelling, Axel Scheffler’s illustrations and the Forestry Commission’s themed trails. But the Gruffalo is not just a tall tale. In this article we meet the real creatures behind the book and explore their lives at Bedgebury.
As Mouse walks through the trees, coming across Fox, Owl and then Snake, he sidesteps their invitations to dinner by inventing the terrifying Gruffalo. Mouse is certainly right to be cautious - everyone wants him as their main course! In the wild, predators and their prey are in a constant evolutionary battle. They must out-wit, out-run or out-smart each other, just like Mouse out-wits his predators in the story. While we now take this theory for granted, thanks to the work of Charles Darwin and others, this was not the commonly held belief until the 18th century. Before this ‘age of enlightenment’, it was thought that animals had remained unchanged since their creation at the dawn of time, rather than evolving in ways that mean they eat, or avoid being eaten.
Several types of rodent make their home at Bedgebury, including the common dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius), the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) and the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis). In order to avoid unwanted attention, such as dinner invitations, they are active in the open only at night. However, the phrase ‘quiet as a mouse’ does not ring true. Their vocalisations are not heard by human ears because they squeak at a very high frequency. Nevertheless, the ears of predators are fine tuned to this and could detect Mouse even in the dead of night.
Common dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius)
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes), who first steps up to entice Mouse to his underground house, is the biggest predator at Bedgebury and the largest type of fox in the world. It uses its senses of smell, hearing and mainly sight to locate prey before pouncing. Its almond, cat-like eyes help pinpoint prey and its long tail steers as it leaps up to five metres through the air. Yet Mouse might have found a vegetarian dinner waiting for him if he had accepted Fox’s invitation. Foxes prefer to hunt only in the twilight hours and are omnivores, choosing berries, stems and roots over mice during the autumn.
Red fox cub (Vulpes vulpes)
Da
nielle Schwa
rtz / CC
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Conservation in Actionby Friends’ members, Susie Shelton and Liz KempTake a quick glance at the trees and shrubs in our gardens or parks and we glimpse a small part of the world’s plant diversity. Over the centuries, non-native plants have been introduced to the UK from around the globe, and the quest to bring back examples of new and often endangered species still continues today.
Did you know that some of your membership fee contributes towards global tree conservation? In March, some Friends of Bedgebury Pinetum attended an inspiring morning to learn more about the vital conservation work taking place. First there was a 40-minute presentation given by Luke Wallace, one of the team who travelled to the Pacific Northwest coast of the USA in September 2015 on a seed-collection expedition. Luke stressed the importance of collecting seeds from their native habitats rather than just propagating from established trees in known collections. This helps the conservation of different species by ensuring genetic diversity. In addition, seeds from trees growing in their natural habitats may have developed adaptations to changes in the environment, and may have better resistance to pests and disease.
Memorable specimens from the trip included Pinus longaeva (bristlecone pine), the oldest known living organism on earth with one tree estimated to be 5,065 years old. Another rare tree was the Cupressus bakeri, seeds of which will be cultivated at Bedgebury.
Following the talk, the group were led out into the Pinetum by Acting Curator Dan Luscombe for a fascinating guided walk. Highlights included seeing behind the scenes in the propagation area, surprisingly small for such important work. The poly-tunnels housed a large number of rare seedlings such as Betula chichibuensis – a Critically Endangered birch from Japan. Dan also gave us details about a wide range of trees from Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir) and Sequoia sempervirens (coast redwood), to the beautiful Hamamelis mollis (Chinese witch hazel).
As Friends of Bedgebury Pinetum we felt proud to be supporting such vital work.
The USA expedition and its crucial conservation collections were possible because of a grant made by the Friends to the Forestry Commission in 2015. The Friends funded this grant with your subscriptions and with donations received in memory of our late Chair, Gerald Williams OBE. Friends’ grants in 2016 enable this work to continue. We would like to thank all of our members for supporting Bedgebury’s international plant conservation efforts. If you want to do more, please just get in touch. E-mail us at [email protected] or make a donation via our website: http://bedgeburypinetum.org.uk/memberships/legacies/make-a-donation/
Dan Luscombe sharing Pinetum stories with walk attendees
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But there is no doubt that Owl, the next character in the Gruffalo story, would want to make a meal out of Mouse. Owls are so well adapted to finding small rodents in the dark that they strike like well-oiled killing machines. Their rounded wings carry them silently, while their neck swivels up to 270 degrees to locate their prey. Feathers around their face create a shape like a satellite dish to magnify the sounds below. Even their ears are specially adapted. One is placed higher on the skull than the other, an asymmetric design, so that prey is pinpointed by sensing at which ear the sound arrives first. And that is without even mentioning their excellent night vision. Owls at Bedgebury, including the tawny owl (Strix aluco) and the elusive barn owl (Tyto alba), all pose a definite threat to Mouse.
Tawny owl (Strix aluco)
Mouse could join frogs and toads on the plate of the last predator, Snake. The grass snakes (Natrix natrix) found at Bedgebury may be green, as in Axel’s drawings, or darker shades of brown. Harmless to humans, they can wind their way expertly across land or
water while hunting, and are often seen in the ponds and lakes on site. In autumn, the young emerge from their eggs with their predatory senses fully formed and ready to stalk rodent prey. This reptile has a unique weapon in its armoury. The heat sensing pits on its snout enable it to find a mouse by sensing its body heat. It could literally hunt with its eyes shut, if it had eyelids!
Grass snake (Natrix natrix)
And what of the Gruffalo? Did the Bioblitz team find evidence of a massive living creature with poisonous warts, purple spines, knobbly knees and orange eyes? Not quite! But could large animals like him be returning to some forests of the UK in new species introduction programmes? The tusks of the wild boar (Sus scrofa) are not an uncommon sight in some of England’s forests where small populations of feral wild boar have become established as a result of escapes and deliberate releases from wildlife collections and wild boar farms. Beavers (Castor fiber), considered by some to be a keystone species for healthy forests, are being monitored in licensed reintroduction feasibility studies taking place in Scotland and elsewhere. Even the majestic lynx (Lynx lynx), once native to the British Isles, is being considered for reintroduction. Perhaps Mouse will meet a forest legend sooner than he thinks!
Wild boar (Sus scrofa)
If you enjoyed the Bedgebury BioBlitz this summer, please keep recording the flora and fauna you see on site. E-mail us at [email protected] with a picture and the time, date and location of your sighting and we will record it on the Bedgebury wildlife or wild flower blogs for other enthusiasts to enjoy. We might even use one your photos in a future magazine, like the grass snake image used here that was submitted by a visitor in 2015 for listing in our wildlife blog. Notable sightings will be forwarded to the Forestry Commission for official recording. To read our wildlife and wild flower blogs, visit our website: www.bedgeburypinetum.org.uk/pinetum/wildlife
Steven Wa
lling / CC
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Some Wild Flowers at Bedgeburyby Sue BuckinghamThroughout the year you can see many wild flowers as you walk amongst the conifers at Bedgebury Pinetum. Many of them are typical of lowland heath which, because of modern development, has declined dramatically during the last 200 years making it an internationally protected habitat and one which is especially rare in the county of Kent. This makes Bedgebury an important place to see wild flowers.
On high, dry areas the poor acid soils are suitable for heather (or ling), Calluna vulgaris.
rarer pale pink flowered cross-leaved heath, Erica tetralix, prefers wetter boggy places.
If you look carefully among the heather flowers, you can find the parasitic plant dodder, Cuscuta epithymum, with its red stems and clusters of tiny white flowers. Here it is seen attached to a plant of gorse, whilst at Bedgebury it gets all its nutrition from its host plant heather.
Bell heather, Erica cinerea, with its red-purple flowers and whorls of needle-like leaves, can be found in similar places to ling, whilst the much
Dwarf gorse, Ulex minor, is a late species, not flowering until August. In fact it’s said that when the gorse is not in bloom, kissing is out of season! That is because one or other species of gorse is in flower pretty well throughout the year. As its name suggests, dwarf gorse is a low-growing species, no more than a metre tall.
In early summer, the sandy grassy slopes in the Pinetum are speckled yellow with four-petalled flowers of tormentil, Potentilla erecta, a low-growing plant whose roots were once used to treat toothache!
Heath milkwort, Polygala serpyllifolia, often grows with tormentil, though it is much scarcer in Kent and can be found on no more than a couple of dozen sites.
English eyebright, Euphrasia anglica, is one of Bedgebury’s very special species. It is endemic, which is to say that it doesn’t occur
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outside the UK, and is currently found in fewer than 200 locations. The eyebrights (and there are many species) are part parasitic, obtaining their water and minerals from a host plant, usually a grass species.
Like other parts of the Kent and Sussex High Weald, Bedgebury’s soils and climate have much in common with the west of Britain. Lemon-scented fern, Oreopteris limbosperma, is a western species which, though scarce in the south, thrives at Bedgebury. You can recognise it by looking underneath its fronds at the pattern of its spores.
Sedges (like grasses and rushes) don’t have showy flowers but they are often indicative of good habitat. Star sedge, Carex echinata, can be found in several places in the Pinetum. It likes the really wet acid places where sphagnum mosses grow and it is otherwise a very scarce species in Kent.
If you are looking for a showy plant, common spotted orchids, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, with their great variety of colour forms and patterns, put on a great show in early June on many of the grassy slopes in the Pinetum.
As summer draws to a close, the blue flowers of devil’s-bit scabious, Succisa pratensis, and
yellow of golden-rod, Solidago virgaurea, provide a wealth of colour and plenty of food for the insects of Bedgebury’s precious flower-rich grasslands.
To date some 230 species of flowers and grasses have been recorded in the Pinetum and these are just a few of them.
To find out more about Bedgebury’s wild flowers, visit our wild flower blog: http://bedgeburypinetum.org.uk/pinetum/wildflowers-blog-2016/.
You can see many wild flowers as
you walk amongst the conifers at
Bedgebury Pinetum
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Events and ActivitiesFor more information on any of the events listed, please contact either:
Bedgebury Visitor Centre Information Office on 01580 879820 or visit www.forestry.gov.uk/bedgebury
The Friends of Bedgebury Pinetum on 01580 879842 or visit www.bedgeburypinetum.org.uk
Events and activities may be subject to change. We recommend that you ring either of the numbers above before visiting.
Friends’ Gift Vouchers may be redeemed against Friends’ events (marked *).
OCTOBER
Illustrated Photography Presentation (*)Saturday 15th October
Day into night photography is stunning… and complicated to achieve! It shows the transition of 24 hours at one location in a single photograph. Intrigued? Local multi-award winning photographer David Jenner will give an illustrated presentation of his work and talk through the technique. This is also an opportunity to see some breath-taking images of Bedgebury across the seasons.
Ticket price £10. The talk will start at 3.30pm in the Education Room at the Visitor Centre and will last approximately 2 hours.
To book your place please phone 01580 879842. Some restrictions apply. See booking conditions on page 18.
Photography Course (*)Friday 21st October or Friday 7th March
Want to turn great photographs into fabulous images? Join award-winning local photographer David Jenner as he takes a small group round the Pinetum and shares his photographic expertise. After lunch, David will demonstrate how to turn ordinary photographs into beautiful works of art in a classroom based workshop. Both courses are aimed at people who have some photographic knowledge.
The whole day session costs £75 per person. The event will start at the Visitor Centre at 9.30am and will finish at 4.30pm. A sandwich lunch will be provided. Participants should bring their own DSLR, or similar full function bridge camera, and a tripod.
To book your place please phone 01580 879842. Some restrictions apply. See booking conditions on page 18.
Hunt the Hidden BoxesMonday 24th and Tuesday 25th OctoberDrop in between 10.00am and 2.00pm. Doors close at 3.00pm.
Have a go at finding hidden boxes by following our trail around the Pinetum. Everyone loves the adventure of hurrying to find the next hidden box and every child finds something little to keep.
Suitable for all ages. £2 per child (plus usual admission fee for non-members). No need to book. This activity starts from the Education Room at the Visitor Centre. Children must be accompanied by an adult during the whole event.
Feed the BirdsWednesday 26th to Friday 28th OctoberDrop in between 10.00am and 2.00pm. Doors close at 3.00pm.
Make your own bird feeder from a pine cone, a bird cupcake or a pumpkin using bird-friendly peanut butter and bird seed. Take it home, hang it outside and wait for the hungry birds to drop in for a treat!
Suitable for all ages. £2 per child (plus usual admission fee for non-members). No need to book. This activity takes place in the Education Room at the Visitor Centre. Children must be accompanied by an adult during the whole event.
The Company of WolvesBased on the stories by Angela Carter and adapted for theatre by Burn the CurtainThursday 27th to Saturday 29th October
Join us for a unique and exciting theatrical experience.
Angela Carter’s classic tale, The Company of Wolves, has been adapted by Burn the Curtain into a promenade adventure for runners and walkers and tells the dark and mysterious modern classic in a totally immersive and unique way.
Audience members will follow one of two routes, either running for up to 5 miles or walking for up to 3 miles,
with the story performed along the way and with regular stops throughout.
Starting at 7.00pm, this event is suitable for children aged 8 and over, if accompanied by an adult. Further information, including prices and details of how to book, can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/bedgebury.
NOVEMBER
Bird Ringing Demonstrations (*)November to February
Bird ringing can help monitor changes in productivity, survival rates, dispersal and migration, enabling us to tackle conservation issues. Bedgebury’s bird ringer Christine George will be ringing birds at Bedgebury from November through to early spring on still, sunny, weekday mornings approximately once a fortnight. A very small audience for each session will have the opportunity to observe wild birds close up. As this event is weather dependent, anyone who would like to attend should register their interest by calling 01580 879842. We will contact interested individuals a day or two before a session is due to take place (once the weather forecast is known) to fill available spaces.
Each session will cost £6 per person. Start times will be around 8.00am and the event will last about two hours. The venue will be confirmed closer to the event. Photography is not permitted at bird ringing sessions.
To book your place please phone 01580 879842. Some restrictions apply. See booking conditions on page 18.
Friends’ AGMSaturday 26th November
Join us at midday for light refreshments and the chance to pose your questions to representatives of the Bedgebury management team. Former Bedgebury Curator, Chris Reynolds, will then host a guided walk in the Pinetum for attendees.
Keep an eye on your e-mails and our website for more information in October.
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DECEMBER
Christmas Wreaths (*)Thursday 1st December Saturday 3rd December (parent and child session)
Get in the mood for Christmas as you create a unique and personal Christmas wreath for your home! Talented local florist Suzanne Price will teach you techniques and tricks of the trade that will help you make your wreath a work of art. All the materials for your wreath are included in the price.
The session on Saturday is a parent and child session, where all paying adults can bring one child aged 8 or over with them at no extra cost. The course costs £45 per person. The sessions will take place in the Education Room at the Visitor Centre. Each session will start at 10.00am and will last approximately 3 hours.
To book your place please phone 01580 879842. Some restrictions apply. See booking conditions on page 18.
Festive Christmas ActivitiesPlease visit the Forestry Commission website www.forestry.gov.uk/bedgebury or call the Information Office on 01580 879820 for more information nearer the time.
New for 2017 A new children’s adventure activity (to replace the hugely popular Stick Man Trail) will be coming to Bedgebury in 2017… We can’t say any more now, but further information will follow on the Forestry Commission website and on site nearer the time!
CHRISTMAS IS COMING!Buy your 100% Santa approved Christmas tree at Bedgebury and join us for Festive Forest Fun on Saturday 10th DecemberDrop in between 10am and 3pm for Christmas activities, which will include:
• Card making
• Making Christmas decorations
• Decorating a gingerbread tree
• Following our seasonal tree trail
• Eating yummy mince pies!
JOIN US FOR PLENTY OF CHRISTMAS CHEER!
OPEN FOR SALES ONFriday 25th November – Sunday 27th NovemberFriday 2nd December – Sunday 4th December
Friday 9th December – Tuesday 20th DecemberFROM 10AM TO 4PM (UNTIL NOON ON THE 15TH DECEMBER)
Call 01580 879820 or visit www.forestry.gov.uk/bedgebury
for more information
Luxury
Wreaths
For Sale
10ft &
12ft Trees
Limited
Availability
FREE CHRISTMAS TREE SAPLING TO PLANT AT HOME WITH A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY*
FREE MINCE PIES WITH EVERY CHRISTMAS TREE*
10% DISCOUNT IN THE BEDGEBURY GIFT SHOP*
FREE STANDARD BIKE INNER TUBE WITH EVERY CHRISTMAS TREE*
FREE PRIZE DRAW ENTRY TO WIN PRIZES BELOW*• Bedgebury - guided walk with tea and cake• Café - £40 voucher• Friends - membership• Go Ape - £75 family ticket
*Terms and Conditions Visit the Forestry Commission website for more information.
BUY YOUR BRITISH-GROWN1 0 0 % S A N T A A P P R O V E D
CHRISTMAS TREEFROM BEDGEBURY
ENJOY FREE ADMISSION TO THE PINETUM AND FOREST AND THESE OTHER BENEFITS*
Winter Specials Menu @ Bedgebury Café
A small fee will be applicable for some of the activities.
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Donate... and make your mark at Bedgebury!
Whatever the occasion, say what you want and show how much you care… As each stunning hardwood mosaic block gains a donor, the Love Bedgebury mosaic in the Visitor Centre will grow to reveal the beautiful and emblematic Larix laricina design.
Love Bedgebury - be part of something amazing!
For more information visit our website
www.lovebedgebury.org.uk or call 07970 249199.Available for a minimum donation from £100 per block. Different sizes and depths available.
As a charity, the Friends of Bedgebury Pinetum takes your membership subscriptions, donations, event fees and gifts and makes them available to the Forestry Commission as grants for projects and activities across the site. These grants are to intended to engage people with trees and, in particular, the Pinetum.
Registered charity number: 1113325.
Donate... and make your mark at Bedgebury!
Whatever the occasion, say what you want and show how much you care… As each stunning hardwood mosaic block gains a donor, the Love Bedgebury mosaic in the Visitor Centre will grow to reveal the beautiful and emblematic Larix laricina design.
Love Bedgebury - be part of something amazing!
For more information visit our website
www.lovebedgebury.org.uk or call 07970 249199.Available for a minimum donation from £100 per block. Different sizes and depths available.
As a charity, the Friends of Bedgebury Pinetum takes your membership subscriptions, donations, event fees and gifts and makes them available to the Forestry Commission as grants for projects and activities across the site. These grants are to intended to engage people with trees and, in particular, the Pinetum.
Registered charity number: 1113325.
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
Bird ringing: a presentation following by a winter bird walk (*)Saturday 21st JanuaryThursday 2nd February
What is bird ringing and why does it matter? Local bird ringer Christine George will give an illustrated presentation on bird ringing and will then lead a guided walk through the Pinetum at roosting time. Learn about the birds that can be found at Bedgebury in the winter and, with luck, perhaps catch sight of the rare hawfinches that overwinter here.
Tickets cost £12 per person. The event will start at the Visitor Centre at 1.30pm and will last approximately 2.5 hours.
To book your place please phone 01580 879842. Some restrictions apply. See booking conditions below.
MARCH
Art WorkshopsThursday 23rd March – Drawing Course (*)Friday 24th March – Watercolour Course (*)
Do you want to try botanical illustration but don’t know where to start? Our drawing and watercolour courses are the perfect way to indulge your interest in art. The courses will be led by Pearl Bostock, a hugely talented botanical artist and founder member of the Bedgebury Florilegium. She will show you how to get started and share tips and techniques to help you progress.
Each day costs £75 per person and will be held at the Visitor Centre from 9.30am to 4.30pm. All materials and a
sandwich lunch will be provided. You can book single days.
To book your place please phone 01580 879842. Some restrictions apply. See booking conditions below.
Birdsong (*)Wednesday 29th March
Local nature guide and bird behaviour specialist Simon Ginnaw will lead a series of workshops on bird behaviour and how to identify them by their song. Over the six sessions, Simon will unravel the complexities of bird song and help you identify the different species as you walk through the Pinetum. This course is a mix between classroom based learning and walks. Sessions will run fortnightly starting on Wednesday 29th March.
The series of 6 workshops costs £72 per person. Each session will start at 2.30pm and last for approximately 2 hours. The other sessions will run on 12th/26th April, 10th/24th May and 7th June.
To book your place please phone 01580 879842. Some restrictions apply. See booking conditions below.
Booking Conditions All events are held at or will start from the Visitor Centre unless otherwise specified.
Full payment is required to reserve places on all events.
No refunds can be offered for failure to attend any course.
If excessively adverse weather is forecast, a cancellation email will be sent three days before the event. If you are unable to attend on the proposed alternative date, you will be offered a full refund.
Dogs are not permitted at any of the events listed.
Events involving a walk may not be suitable for those with limited mobility.
NEW!NEW!
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Bedgebury is a popular location for Canicross due to the stunning scenery and also for the following reasons:
1. Running trails – Bedgebury offers miles of diverse trails and surfaces which can be used all year round. Hilly, flat, wide, narrow, grassy, hard-packed, twisty, straight, shady and exposed all challenge the Canicross team in different ways and keep routes fresh and interesting.
2. Free running opportunities – novice dogs at the start of their training can be rewarded with unattached time in between short bursts of training. Free running can also be used to warm up and cool down your dog and to give opportunities for socialisation. Whilst Canicross does focus on the dog being on-line there are sections of the forest where dogs can run and play unattached although regard must be had to local residents and their cars, walkers, horse riders and cyclists.
3. Visitor facilities – after a Canicross run there is the welcome option of the Visitor Centre café. The café will shortly offer a dedicated newly-glazed dog area with picnic tables, water bowls and dog tie-up
spaces. Don’t forget to order a dog biscuit with your slice of homemade cake – you have both earned it after all!
4. Group running – Bedgebury Pinetum parkrun started in March 2016 and welcomes Canicross runners. The 5km timed run starts near the Go Ape hut and is a well signed and clearly marshalled route, with a couple of cheeky hills and gorgeous scenery. The parkrun is held every Saturday morning at 9am. It is a great way to build your confidence and experience of Canicrossing in a bigger group. Kent Canicross also hold social runs across the county with several going from Bedgebury each year. Details of their runs can be found on the Kent Canicross Facebook page.
The Sport of Canicross at Bedgeburyby Jenny LeeCanicross is one of the fastest growing dog sports in the country and is essentially cross country running whilst attached to your harnessed dog. The dog is encouraged to pull into the Canicross harness which connects to the runner via a belt and a bungee line. The runner is therefore assisted, allowing them to run further and faster, and the dog gets a great mental and physical workout.
Before heading to Bedgebury to run with your dog, in a flurry of wagging tail and joyful barking, what needs to be considered for you and your dog to run safely in the forest?
1. Age of your dog – for most breeds 12 months is a reasonable age to start
running. At the other end of the spectrum you need to be aware that dogs do slow down with age
and can be more likely to suffer with arthritic joints.
2. Fitness level – it is important to build up your doggy miles carefully so that your dog can adjust physically to the
higher level of exertion. Start gently and take advantage of the great diversity of trails and surfaces at Bedgebury to protect sensitive paws.
3. Running harness – if you are running with your dog then your dog should be wearing a harness. Dog’s necks are physiologically similar to ours in that they accommodate the trachea, oesophagus and thyroid gland, so enhanced pressure when pulling a runner from a collar and lead can result in neck injures, discomfort and breathing difficulties.
4. Running temperatures – the Canicross season runs from September to May. An outside temperature above 18 degrees can put your running dog at risk of overheating.
Dogs at Bedgebury
• Dogs are very welcome at Bedgebury
• We encourage you to let your dog off the lead in the wider forest
• Dogs must be under close control at all times and on a lead in the car park, around the Visitor Centre, Pinetum & play areas
• Sorry, but no dogs are allowed on the Singletrack MTB trail
• Dogs are not permitted in the Visitor Centre, toilets or Bedgebury Café (except assistance dogs)
• Please pick up after your dog and place the bag in one of the many dog bins provided near the car park and play areas, and in the Pinetum
If you would like to enhance your life and that of your dog then do come along to Bedgebury Forest and have a go at Canicross.
Jenny Lee is the owner of Joggy Doggy Limited and heads up a team offering Canicross Fitness Classes and Canicross Personal Training Sessions to runners and their dogs through local parks, woods and footpath trails. Joggy Doggy Ltd has branches in Kent, Hampshire, Cumbria, Oxfordshire, Edinburgh and Flintshire and was the first Canicross Group to be Run England affiliated. In between Canicross races Jenny can be contacted at www.joggydoggy.co.uk and on 07584 438973.Photographs courtesy of
Houndscape Photography
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Bees at Bedgeburyby Ian Beavis, Research Curator at the Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art GalleryBedgebury is not just about trees and woodland. The Pinetum supports a rich variety of freshwater and open habitats, each with its own special range of plants and animals. Particularly important from a conservation perspective are areas of flower-rich grassland and heathland. Both are habitats which have declined disastrously in the wider countryside as a result of agricultural ‘improvements’ in the post-war era. In the agricultural landscape, old ‘unimproved’ meadows rich in wild flowers and associated insect life have for the most part been ploughed up and replaced with a monoculture of rye-grass that excludes most other plants.
Bees, being dependent on nectar and pollen from flowers for feeding and foraging for their young, are among the groups of insects that have suffered most from the loss of open flower-rich habitats, and their survival in places like Bedgebury gives us a glimpse of what we have lost from the countryside at large.
Bedgebury supports at least 11 of Britain’s 25 species of bumblebees – most of which are social insects like the familiar honey-bee, living in colonies with large numbers of sterile females or workers who rear the offspring of a single queen. However, there are also the interesting cuckoo bumblebees whose females take over already established colonies. Queen bumblebees emerging from hibernation and searching for suitable nest sites are usually the earliest bees to be seen in spring or even late winter. One of the scarcer bumblebees to be found at Bedgebury is the heathland bumblebee Bombus jonellus, which in its more prolific second generation forages mostly from heather.
The remainder of Britain’s 250 or so bee species are termed ‘solitary’ – because in most cases the females make their own individual nests without any collaboration, and without any ongoing care once the nest has been stocked with nectar and pollen and the eggs laid. A wide variety of solitary bees can be seen at Bedgebury, several of them nationally scarce and rare, with a range of flight periods extending from February to October. Spring-flying species
include the extraordinary long-horned bee, Eucera longicornis, in which the males have remarkably long antennae that are assumed to be used in courtship display. They can be quite conspicuous in May or June, making their persistent, low, mate-searching flights over the red and white clovers on which both sexes feed. Like many solitary bees, the long-horned bee nests in deep burrows which it excavates in the soil.
Many solitary bees have distinct – and sometimes exclusive – preferences for the flowers on which they feed and forage.
For example, females of the little red-girdled mining bee, Andrena labiata, characteristic of flower-rich grassland, mainly gather nectar and pollen for their nests from germander speedwell. Similarly Melitta leporina, a white-banded species, feeds and forages mostly on white clover. Knowing these preferences can be a reliable way of spotting particular species.
In July and August the dominant heathland flowers, common heather and bell heather, attract their own special suite of solitary bees – including the heather mining bee, Andrena fuscipes, whose blue-grey males patrol the heather clumps persistently on sunny days, and heather colletes, Colletes succinctus,
another mining species. Each of these has its own dedicated cuckoo bee species that lays its own eggs on the food store that the female mining bee has prepared – the little yellow and black Nomada rufipes is associated with the Andrena and the curious white and red marked Epeolus cruciger with the Colletes.
These cuckoo bees can regularly be seen feeding at heather flowers along with their hosts. The small yellow flowers of tormentil that commonly grow alongside heather also have their own special bee – the rare tormentil mining bee, Andrena tarsata - which has possibly its only Kent site at Bedgebury.
Eucera longicornis
Andrena labiata
Andrena fuscipesNomada rufipes
Colletes succinctus
If you were lucky enough to see any of Bedgebury’s nationally rare or scarce bees during August’s BioBlitz, or any of the other amazing flora and fauna to be found in the Pinetum, you will understand why protecting the Pinetum’s biodiversity is so important. Support the Pinetum with your membership and join the Friends on a walk again soon to explore more of the Pinetum’s trees, wild flowers, bird life, butterflies or fungi.
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The Old Man of Kentby Dan LuscombeMany readers will have been saddened by the felling of Kent’s tallest tree, The Old Man of Kent, during the summer. The decision to cut down a tree of this stature, not to mention fame, is never lightly taken. The Forestry Commission have had the Old Man under observation for several years because of its age but the final straw was damage sustained during Storm Katie in the spring which highlighted both disease and structural weakness. A further independent survey by arboricultural consultants Sylvanarb revealed that the tree was in poor physiological and structural condition and its fate was, unfortunately, sealed.
When Viscount Marshall Beresford planted a grand silver fir (Abies grandis) around 1880 on his Bedgebury estate, could he have imagined, in his wildest dreams, the renown and affection this tree would garner more than a century later? At that time it was the latest fashionable ornamental tree to hanker after, having been discovered in 1825 by David Douglas on the West Coast of the US and introduced into the UK in 1830.
It is rather poignant, and perhaps fitting, that the Friends-funded collaborative seed collecting expedition to the Pacific Northwest coast of the USA in 2015 allowed Bedgebury the opportunity to collect seed from the grand silver fir in Washington State. These seeds have now been successfully propagated in the Bedgebury nursery producing a whole forest in miniature ready to take its place in the Pinetum. Hopefully, in time, one or more of these seedlings will rise to similar
heights. The Old Man may be gone but his heirs are waiting in the wings ready to take root in the soil of the Pinetum for the pleasure of our grandchildren and great grandchildren. The circle of life continues!
Although the Old Man is now absent from the Pinetum landscape, it is hoped that some of the good timber will be used to create a lasting piece of art for the Pinetum. Brushwood and other pieces of timber will be made into mulch and woodchip that will be used around the site. The sculpture will be unveiled in 2017.
Keep an eye on our Facebook and website pages for glimpses of the new Pinetum sculpture in progress and for more information on the journey of all the successful collections from the US expedition including the grand fir seedlings that we hope will one day replace the Old Man in the Pinetum landscape.
The view from the top of the Old Man2524
Pine Cones by Emma BrownThe majority of trees in the Pinetum started life as a seed inside a pine cone. Conifers, ginkgos and cycads were making cones to harness the winds for reproduction over 200 million years before insects began to pollinate flowering plants. Their successful strategy has remained little changed since the time of the dinosaurs, as if nature is saying ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!’
Seed cones come in all shapes and sizes. The world record for the longest pine cone is held by the sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana), with a cone measuring a whopping half a metre in length. Meanwhile, the Coulter pine (Pinus coulteri) boasts cones that can weigh in at 5 kilos, the name ‘widow makers’ serving to warn any hard-hat-less husbands standing beneath. But the Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), which can grow to be an impressive 50 metres tall, proves good things come in small packages with its petite 2.5cm long cones.
Unlike a flower which may multi-task by having both male and female parts, conifers produce separate cones for the two jobs. The scaly, brown cones you might trip over on your walk are the fallen female fruiting bodies, in contrast to the more unassuming, fluffy, pollen-releasing male cones. Female cones remain sticky and green while they develop on the branches, a process which may take several years, later hardening to protect the delicate, papery seeds as they plummet to the forest floor.
Pine cones are the conifer’s answer to a blossoming flower, and are no less interesting to look at. The mesmerising way the scales spiral round inspired their botanical name ‘strobilus’, from the Greek meaning ‘whirlwind’. By positioning their parts in this way, the tree ensures that the resources in the cones are divided into equal
This cone from the holford pine (Pinus x holfordiana) is made up of 8 clockwise spirals (yellow) and 5 anti-clockwise spirals (red). The numbers 8 and 5 are consecutive steps in the Fibonacci sequence.
pockets for its many seeds, giving them all the best chance to germinate.
This division is so exact that it follows the Fibonacci sequence, a recurring numerical pattern seen in natural structures from sunflowers’ seed heads to the curl of snails’ shells. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21... Each number is the sum of the two numbers coming before it in the sequence. This sequence occurs so spookily often in nature that philosophers have considered it proof of a divine creator, a God who sat down at the drawing board and designed plants and animals with mathematical rules in mind.
Test this out on the next cone you find. Look at the bottom of the cone where it has snapped from its stem, you will see that the scales spiral both clockwise and anti-clockwise around the cone. Count
the number of spiral rows in both directions, and you will always find that you end up with two different numbers from the Fibonacci sequence. Whether this shows you nature’s exceptional efficiency or proves that God’s hand created it, it is just plain interesting!
Pinus coulteri – the ‘widow maker’
Pinus lambertiana
Take a walk in the Pinetum this autumn and winter and examine our fallen cones for yourself. Who would have thought that maths could be so much fun! Whatever activity you indulge in when you visit us this autumn and winter, remember that by becoming a member of the Friends of Bedgebury Pinetum, you are helping us to support the Pinetum and its wonderful pine cones far into the future.
Join now at http://bedgeburypinetum.org.uk/memberships/membership-3/become-a-member/
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Another Flower in our Bouquetby Mina McPheeFresh from the success of the Ticehurst exhibition, the Bedgebury Florilegium Society has been invited to take part in the Royal Horticultural Society exhibition in February 2017.
‘What is a florilegium and how is it connected to Bedgebury?’ I hear you ask. Well…
Identified florilegia have been around since the 15th century when herbals books describing the culinary and medicinal uses of plants were printed containing scientific illustrations of flowers. Then, as new and exotic plants came into Europe in the 17th century, wealthy patrons commissioned artists to record the beauty of these plants and flowers. Modern day florilegia record collections of (often endangered) plants from particular sites. So it should come as no surprise that there is a thriving florilegium at Bedgebury which records rare species of collected specimens from across the world.
The existence of the Bedgebury Florilegium is relatively new and it would not have existed but for the passion and determination of a group of dedicated botanical artists.
According to the Chair of the group, Pearl Bostock, it started when she fell in love with a pine, Thujopsis dolabrata, and wanted to paint it. She enquired at Kew Gardens and was referred to Dan Luscombe, Bedgebury’s resident Dendrologist at the time. Dan took Pearl on a tree walk and, while ambling through the Pinetum, they came up with the idea of introducing artists to Bedgebury in order to record the stunning collection of trees at the site. With support from the then Curator, Chris Reynolds, and Pearl’s artist contacts, the fledgling Bedgebury Florilegium was born. That was in 2008…the rest, as they
say, is history and Bedgebury now boasts a thriving florilegium with 12 members, all highly talented botanical artists.
New artists are recruited by word of mouth and prospective members are invited to submit a portfolio of work that shows off their skill. Botanical illustration is a genre that requires accurate and detailed observation and water colour technique using numerous washes of colour, one on top of the other, to give a deep and intricate record of the specimen.
All members commit to completing at least one painting per year as part of their membership, but of course often end up doing substantially more.
You will have an opportunity to see the work of the Bedgebury Florilegium at the RHS exhibition in February 2017.
We’d love you to come along and support Bedgebury and its wonderful florilegium at the RHS exhibition in February. Keep an eye on our website for more information nearer the time. Meanwhile, if you love Bedgebury, and love the work of our artists, take a look at the prints of their work that we offer for sale. A catalogue of available work can be found on our website at: http://bedgeburypinetum.org.uk/home/retail/.
Pinus Pungens, from an original artwork by Sandra Fernandez.
The artist Julia Groves at work
Pinus lambertiana from an original artwork by Julia Groves
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Our Partners
Charity no. 1113325
‘Supporting the work of Bedgebury and the National Pinetum’
The Friends of Bedgebury Pinetum Magazine This magazine is produced twice a year by the Friends of Bedgebury Pinetum charity. It aims to inform members about the work of the charity and its upcoming projects and events. It is also an opportunity to share the wonders and stories of Bedgebury.
Patron HRH The Countess of Wessex GCVO
Trustees Mr M Kerr (Chair) Mr J Gordon (Treasurer) Mr K Brookbank Mrs E Goodall Mrs E Hill Mr M Paine Mr N Pink Mrs E Reid Mr K Webber
Staff information and contact details
Friends’ Manager Friends’ team Katherine Jary Sharon Booth Mina McPhee Ann Waller General enquiries 01580 879842 [email protected]
Membership enquiries [email protected]
Volunteering enquiries [email protected]
www.bedgeburypinetum.org.uk
INFORMATIONSite opening timesOctober 8.00-18.00November 8.00-17.00December 8.00-16.00January 8.00-16.00February 8.00-17.00March 8.00-18.00
Office opening times October 9.30-16.30November 9.30-16.30December 9.30-16.00January 9.30-16.00February 9.30-16.30March 9.30-16.30
General enquiries01580 [email protected]/bedgeburywww.facebook.com/bedgeburypinetumwww.twitter.com/BedgeburyP
Staff information
Bedgebury ManagerPatrick West
Acting Operations ManagerWarren Stirling
Recreation ManagerMark Clixby
Learning ManagerCath Weeks
Acting CuratorDan Luscombe
Bedgebury National Pinetum is cared for by the Forestry Commission for people, wildlife and trees.www.forestry.gov.uk
We, the Friends of Bedgebury Pinetum and the Forestry Commission at Bedgebury, would like to express our gratitude to all our partners. Without their help we would be unable to achieve all the wonderful things we do at Bedgebury.
Our partnerships enable us to be world-leaders in the diverse activities we undertake: from conifer conservation, mountain biking and helping people to appreciate and enjoy nature, to helping us to source funding for all of our valuable work.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Forest Research
Fauna & Flora International
Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Botanic Gardens Education Network
Royal Botanic Gardens, Wakehurst Place
Royal Horticultural Society
The University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum
The International Conifer Conservation Programme
Sport England
The Arts Council
Our volunteers
Go Ape
Quench Cycles
The Kent High Weald Partnership
Bedgebury Forest Cycle Club
Bedgebury Café
Lord Howick
Mrs Elizabeth Banks DL
Mr Gavin Grant
Mr David Knott
Mr Roy Lancaster OBE VMH
Mr Giles Coode-Adams OBE VMH (Chair)
Mr Malcolm Kerr LLB MRICS
Mr Tony Hall
Our partners include:
The Forestry Commission Arboreta Advisory Committee:
GLOBAL TREES
CAMPAIGN
Contributing to the strategic direction of the National Pinetum at Bedgebury and the National Arboretum at Westonbirt.
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Join the Friends of Bedgebury PinetumBecome a Friend to help us support the Forestry Commission in its management of Bedgebury as a world-class centre of conifer research, conservation and education, as a landscape of rare and endangered flora and fauna, and as a site for high quality, healthy recreation.
The Bedgebury annual membership subscription enables one of two specified vehicles to gain admission to the site all year round* and will entitle you to an e-copy of the Friends’ bi-annual magazine.
* Excluding Christmas Day when the site is closed, or when the site is closed due to adverse weather.
Annual subscription Fixed for another year at £66 per car – fantastic value for the whole family
Friends also enjoy admission to other gardens and arboreta. Included within the annual membership subscription is a free admission pass for the lead member to the gardens and arboreta listed. Additional family members can also obtain an admission pass to these gardens and arboreta for the year for less than the price of a day admission ticket to many of them.
Additional admission cards - £12 per person per annumTerms and conditions apply. These offers are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Free entry to some gardens is restricted at certain times of the year and in some cases car parking charges apply. Please check their websites or telephone for more information.
Batsford Arboretum and Garden Centre01386 701441 www.batsarb.co.uk
Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses0121 4541860www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk
Brogdale Collections01795 536250 www.brogdalecollections.co.uk
The Yorkshire Arboretum01653 648598 www.yorkshirearboretum.org
The Living Rainforest01635 202444 www.livingrainforest.org
RHS Garden Harlow Carr0845 265 8070www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr
RHS Garden Hyde Hall0845 265 8071www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall
RHS Garden Rosemoor0845 265 8072www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor
RHS Garden Wisley0845 260 9000www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh0131 248909 www.rbge.org.uk
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew0208 332 5655 www.kew.org
Royal Botanic Gardens, Wakehurst Place01444 894066 www.kew.org/visit-wakehurst
Westonbirt the National Arboretum0300 067 4890 www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
Agapanthus orientalis from an original watercolour by Helen Hiorns.
Membership Information
Visit only once a month and save up to
£78 per annum
Join or renew NOW
Looking for gift ideas?Here are some great suggestions for gifts that will give great pleasure
and lasting memories to your loved ones.
GIFT M
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Give so
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GIFT VOUCHERS
You can now buy Bedgebury Gift Vouchers! These
can be purchased for any amount and can be
redeemed against Friends’ membership and
Friends’ events or in the gift shop. They can
even be used to pay for day admission!
Available from the
Information Office.
BEAUTIFUL
ARTWORK
Original artwork and prints of
the stunning botanical illustrations
painted by the talented artists of the Bedgebury
Florilegium are now available. Why not visit our
website to see a range of their work? You could
even commission a unique work of art capturing
your favourite tree at Bedgebury!
E-mail us on [email protected]
to find out more or to place an order.
Love Bedgebury - be part of something amazing!Every gift you buy from us will support the work that we do in promoting tree-related engagement,
research and learning at Bedgebury, one of the finest conifer collections in the world.
Looking for Gift Ideas?
NEW!NEW!
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The Friends of Bedgebury Pinetum are very grateful to Survey Mechanics for supporting the Friends’ 2015 survey with their time, expertise and software.
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