Keele University
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Keele University Arboretum
Keele University is situated in 617 acres of landscaped grounds to the west of the Potteries conurbation in North Staffordshire, UK. The estate came into the possession of the Sneyd family in the mid-16th century and of the University in 1952.
Although we have always had a good collection of trees it was not until 2000 that the University decided to set up an arboretum. Normally, an arboretum is a purpose-designed collection of trees but at Keele we are considering our entire campus as an arboretum with the following main objectives:
- there is historic precedent for an arboretum at Keele and the continuum has been maintained through the variety of trees planted during the lifetime of the University
- to encourage good stewardship of the estate by preserving the best historic landscape while creating a 21st century landscape
- to facilitate initiatives for collaboration in art and science
- to provide an educational resource that will have lasting value and will contribute to the University's need to address contemporary issues such as improved access, social inclusion and the environment
Setting up the arboretum involved:
- Identifying exactly what trees we already have and where they are.
- Focusing on a speciality that will make our collection different from others in the area.
- Compiling a list of trees that we would like to plant and locations where this can be done and a mechanism for funding.
- Disseminating information to the public.
The result of all this is that :
- All trees on the main campus (over 3000) have been tagged and their locations are available online via an interactive map or search tool.
- For most trees there is an account with photographs on the website.
- We have built up a collection of over 200 varieties of flowering cherry that has now been recognised by Plant Heritage as a National Collection
- We have made provision for people to donate trees in memoriam, commemoration or simply as a gift that will enhance our collection
- We have laid out a series of woodland walks that will guide visitors around our collections
Finally, all the information about the arboretum, including all the other flora and fauna to be found here, can be found on the Arboretum Website.
The campus is open to all. There is a charge Monday-Friday and parking is restricted during the week. However there is a regular bus service.
Details of visiting the arboretum can be found here.
