Opening of Cherry Collection
Keele's collection of Flowering Cherries now comprises over 230 species and varieties, making it the largest of its kind in Europe.
In 2013 it was awarded National Collection status by Plant Heritage and to mark the occasion the collection was officially opened by Professor Pat Bailey (Pro VC for Environment and Sustainability) and Professor Philip Davies (Director of Eccles Centre for American Studies, British Library) by unveiling an interpretation board about the collection. Professor Davies is a Keele graduate from the 1960s and has been very generous in his support for the arboretum and of the cherry collection in particular.
L to R : Prof Pat Bailey, Dave Emley, Dr Peter Thomas, Prof. Philip Davies
The ceremony was attended by representatives of Plant Heritage, a party from the National Trust and supporters from the University. The collection has greatly benefited from the guidance of Chris Sanders, the former Production Manager of Bridgmere Nurseries and a national expert on cherries, who supplied most of the trees; many of which are very rare and not available to see elsewhere.
A short walk followed the ceremony at which Peter Thomas, Dave Emley and Graham Lees regaled the 70-odd attendees with their knowledge of flowering cherries. For more information visit: www.keele.ac.uk/cherries