A truly magnificent place, well worth travelling a long way to see. I spent nearly 8 hours walking round and maybe covered off 50%. The area called Silkwood was unbelievable, every corner you think it can't get better but it did. Weather was overcast, some sun late on just before I had to leave. I took these photos with a Nikon D3100, set on auto..Im a novice with cameras. Worth viewing on a laptop to see their best. Enjoy:
@dicky5ash good morning R, we were thinking about you all day yesterday and wondering if the weather was holding out for you and it seems it did. So glad you had a great time, we love Silk Wood also, hope you manged to get over the other side where the older varieties are planted., You said at the end of your post 'enjoy' and we really have. Can't stop looking at them. 'THANKYOU' R
Just to add in October 2024 the International Maple Symposium is due to be held at Westonbirt. As a 'Maple Society' member it's already provisionally in my diary. Could be a fantastic way for everyone to meet up and enjoy the sights !!!?
If Westonbirt was say in the US, I believe it would be well worth the expense and effort..I’d probably do it in 3 visits..and then go to other nearby places in the afternoon..Stow, the Wolds and Bibury etc being so close it would work. I’m going to become a member it’s £39 or £15 per visit..and you get free access to various other arboretums.. like Batsford. The only issue I have is that it kind of puts our trees right back in their boxes. Count me in 2024..
My pleasure D, when you say otherside do you mean On the right hand side Acer glade side? I went there first..there was a huge section I was unable to cover, far side of Silk wood..I just ran out of time..legs were a little weary too 22,000 steps
Yes Acer glade to the right of the entrance. It can be a long day out after a long drive. I see on the other post that you are going to become a member. Worthwhile if you are close enough to make it pay. It's good that Batsford comes under that same ticket.
It’s 2hr 15min each way for me.. so not a monthly trip but if I go 3 times a year plus a few bones visits elsewhere it’s worth the ticket. I saw 3 P. pentaphyllums about 2.5m-3m high, they looked less robust that pretty much everything other growing thing there..they didn’t look like they were thriving, more subsisting..I wonder if it’s a climate thing or they are less robust as a species.. I know these are critically endangered on the red list
Yes there are quite a few in that area that are struggling and indeed it is on the Red list. The MS seed exchange IMO is even more important these days or we will end up losing species. Regarding the drive, yes it's still some distance but worth it. We would have gone this year, but with Covid and our age didn't want to risk it. But next year !!!!!!!!
Understood..my patents are shielding. There were quite a few people there all told but at no time was anyone near me.. and it was very low in capacity terms compared to last year. I think it’s probably the safest public place..no queues, or crowds.
I know this is R @dicky5ash thread but wanted to post a photo I took at Westonbirt in Silk Wood with the sun shining as it was cloudy when he was there.
Hi all. Wonderful pictures on here recently, and this thread inspired a trip out to Westonbirt this morning. It was beautiful when we arrived, but knew the rain was on its way so didn’t waste any time getting out to the Maple Loop.
Fantasy land..glad you went. Did you see the massive P. Seiryu in Silk Wood..I thought acer loop in Silk Wood was even more spectacular than the Acer Glade the other side..although there are so many remarkable trees you don’t know whether your coming or going lol
@Luke’s Maples absolutely wonderful photos Luke, glad you managed to have a great time before the rain. You and are R @dicky5ash have really cheered up a miserable dark evening here. Will be looking at both your photos again and again. 'Thankyou'
