About the Arboretum at Upper Arley

The Arboretum at Upper Arley is one of the oldest in Great Britain.

Beautiful and unspoilt, with an important range of mature native and rare species, it is now open to the public for the first time!

Arley lies tucked away in the beautiful countryside of the Worcestershire/ Shropshire borders, in a perfect setting on the banks the of the River Severn. The arboretum is above the picturesque village of Upper Arley and provides the backdrop for its 900-year-old church.

• view map of arboretum;

• view aerial photograph;

The first major planting of the Arboretum was in 1820, when the Arley Estate was owned by Lord Mountnorris, and some of the original trees remain in good health today. In 1852 the Estate was purchased by Robert Woodward and remained in the Woodward family until it was purchased by Mr. Roger D. Turner in 1959.

New planting continued during the 19th and 20th centuries, and the original Arboretum was extended in 2001 to include a new conservation pool around which are planted many interesting aquatic trees and plants. Some 300 species. Growing and maturing for two centuries, the collection continues to be expanded and currently includes more than 300 species in formal and informal plantings.

Within the Arboretum is a listed walled garden which includes an Italian Garden with pools, seated picnic area, magnificent herbaceous borders and a small collection of ornamental ducks and poultry including Chinese Bantams, Old English Bantams, Silkies and Shell Ducks.

• the Italian garden;

Arley Arboretum is not just a collection of trees and shrubs. There is also a rich diversity of wildlife to be seen. Many British mammals can be seen in and around the Arboretum, including badgers, foxes, roedeer, stoats, hedgehogs and grey squirrels. Grey squirrels, although common throughout the UK, are not native and were introduced into the British Isles from North America about 1877. Although a lovely animal to watch running up and down trees after each other, they do cause extensive damage to both young and established trees.

Many Fungi can be seen growing on and below the trees including the red and white Fly agaric and its rarer relative The Panther, both of which are poisonous.
Some edible fungi can be found including the Giant Puff Balls and Chicken of the Woods which looks and tastes similar to chicken. No fungus should be eaten unless 100% sure of its identification as so many of them have "look-a-likes".

For the Ornithologists visiting the Arboretum, the variety of birdlife to be seen is too extensive to list but some of the more exciting birds that have been seen include Barn Owls, Merlin, Green Woodpecker, lesser spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Crossbill, Goldcrest, Goosander and Peregrines.

Reg. Charity No. 263556

- top of page - site map - location maps - links - contact us -