AUTUMN COLOUR AT THE YORKSHIRE ARBORETUM – TREES, MARK HEARLD EXHIBITION AND MORE BABY RED SQUIRRELS
Mark Hearld: ‘Autumn Display’
After a slow start the trees at the Yorkshire Arboretum near Castle Howard are reaching their full glory, and despite the wind and rain are expected to look good for several more weeks.
Complimenting the trees will be an exciting exhibition of new work by York artist Mark Hearld, from 9 November. Entitled ‘Autumn at the Arboretum’ it features new collages inspired by Mark’s regular visits to the 120 acre site, and the beauty he finds in the diversity of shape, form and colour among the trees and shrubs – as well as the Red Squirrels which are one of his favourite animals. Mark says ‘I got to know Red Squirrels when I lived in Germany, and now it’s great to be able to see them at the Yorkshire Arboretum, where you can get really close to them. They look wonderful among the autumn leaves.’
Mak Hearld: ‘Scampering Squirrel’
John Grimshaw, Arboretum Director, said ‘We’re very proud to be hosting a show by such a distinguished artist as Mark Hearld, especially as it’s all about this place. It’s fascinating to see our ‘arb’ through an artist’s eyes.’
MORE BABY RED SQUIRRELS
To our great surprise, our Red Squirrels have produced another litter of kits. The four new youngsters are the offspring of parents Holly and Erik, and are just making their first exploratory trips out of their nestbox. It’s late for kits to emerge, but with ample food provided and an experienced mother we expect them to thrive. This makes a total of 12 kits produced in our first year, an extraordinary success. Some of the earlier kits will soon be going to a reintroduction project in Wales; boosting numbers of this delightful animal around the UK is the aim of this project, funded by the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund.
Mark Hearld’s ‘Autumn at the Arboretum’ exhibition is open in the Visitor Centre from Thursday 9 November (Preview Evening 8 November), free of charge, 10 am-4 pm each day until 30 November.
To visit the Red Squirrel Enclosure please book at www.yorkshirearboretum.org/red-squirrels
John Grimshaw: Japanese maples at the Yorkshire Arboretum
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Yorkshire Arboretum is an independent charity established in 1997 to maintain and protect a unique collection of trees and shrubs from around the world, and to use this resource for education. Located 15 miles from York, it offers 120 acres of peace and tranquillity in the heart of the Howardian Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
A scenic landscape of wildflower meadows, lakes and ponds with rich native biodiversity provides a backdrop to the collection. Open from 10am – 4pm daily, between 1 February – 30 November, visitors can follow tree trails or explore the site’s woodland, meadows, and lakeside on a network of hard or grass paths.
In addition to the 120-acre garden of trees there’s a Visitor Centre with café offering refreshments and a gift shop. The adjoining Peter Sowerby Building is home to The Tree Health Centre, a pioneering initiative that aims to make people more aware of the importance of a healthy treescape, and the problems caused by tree pests and diseases. The Yorkshire Arboretum Visitor Centre and Peter Sowerby Building are available for private hire throughout the year. For more details, please contact [email protected]
The arboretum’s annual event programme includes a wide range of family and outdoor activities, botanical and horticultural education, and arts and crafts workshops. Full details are available at www.yorkshirearboretum.org