A little known collection of rare and exotic trees nestles within the grounds of Royal Holloway College and is publicly accessible. The collection was formed in the 1960s and 1970s by Professor of Botany, F.W. Jane, as an educational and recreational resource. Acquisition by Royal Holloway has enabled the collection to be managed and nurtured.
“When I was told about this collection I couldn’t ignore the opportunity to support the arboretum, as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations” said Jago Keen, Chairman of the Arboricultural Association.
The Arboricultural Association is the leading professional body for tree experts and between the 14th and 17th of September held its national conference, Applied Arboriculture – ‘Healthy Trees, Healthy People’, at Royal Holloway College.
“Not only do these arboreta provide recreational opportunities for visitors, but as standing experiments they also enable us to study the form and behaviour of trees so that we can consider their suitability for use elsewhere. Trees are known to have multiple benefits to human wellbeing through their control of temperature and cleaning of air as well as many other physiological and psychological benefits”.
The arboretum contains a collection of trees, both large and small, from across the world with many providing interest throughout the year including spring flowering and autumn colour. The arboretum is well worth a visit for this interest and for its sense of tranquillity amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
