An update of changes and developments at the Harcourt Arboretum

This month at the Arboretum we have made some quite substantial changes, in particular the Tree Team have been focusing on an area previously known as the Bamboo glade. Over the years this area has lost a number of specimens, due to frost damage in harsh winters. This had created an opportunity to change and develop the focus of this area along with an adjacent space, which has predominantly been self-seeded Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) and Birch (Betula spp). Over the previous weeks the Arborists have been working to remove a selection of these species in order to open up the area for future planting space.

 In addition to this, views of current and interesting specimens have been opened up. There is now a spot from which the full height of one of the Giant Redwoods (Sequoiadendron giganteum) can be appreciated, alongside the largest Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) at the arboretum. In this process a young but important Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) is soon to be exposed, also.

Luke Rowland dismantling one of the Sycamores

Timber extraction

In the process of opening up the new space, a significant amount of stumps have been created, which on arrival of the new stump grinder will be targeted with vigour. The removal of these stumps will open up a large area of ground space, allowing ground preparation to be carried out, and finally to be planted with new species which are currently waiting in the nursery.

Guy Horwood and Luke Rowland