Working to preserve wonder of Westonbirt
THIS week was the autumn equinox - which means the season of crisp mornings and colourful cascading leaves is finally here.
Over the next few months, people will flock to Westonbirt Arboretum, known for the spectacular colours that fall from its trees at this time of year.
However, it will be hard to ensure that these colours are preserved for future generations to come in the face of growing threats - decades of careful planning and care are needed.
On Tuesday, Botanic Gardens Conservation International published a report, which gave conservation status to all 158 maple or Acer species, which form the base of the arboretums spectacle.
The report reveals that one in five maple species are at high risk of extinction in the near future and require conservation action.
Some 75 per cent of these threatened species are geographically restricted in their native ranges.
On a positive note, 71.5 per cent of Acer species are not under threat of extinction in the wild.
Westonbirt Arboretum is home to 113 threatened tree species, including some maples now at risk of extinction.
One of the unique trees which resides on the popular site in Tetbury is the Acer pentaphyllum - of which there are only four populations of this critically endangered species left in the wild.
Westonbirt is also one of the only places on the planet where you can see the Acer miaotaiense, which is currently classed as vulnerable due to habitat loss from logging, land development and road construction.
This species is rare in cultivation, and is only known to have roots in just a few botanical gardens across the globe.
You can also see the Japanese red maple - of which there are 1,500 mature specimens remaining worldwide.
The paperbark maple also resides in the arboretum - a species which has just 9 known, fragmented populations in the wild.
Westonbirt Arboretum has a vital role to play in conserving these beautiful but endangered species, both at the arboretum and in England’s wider woodlands and forests.
Max Ballard, curator at Westonbirt, said: “While the arboretum is a popular visitor attraction and a great place to come and see the shades of autumn at their finest, Westonbirt Arboretum is also a site scientifically important.
“A large part of our role is conserving these magnificent plants for future generations.
“Our team travels all over the world collecting seeds to grow in the arboretum, with 85 per cent of our seeds collected from the wild.
“This allows us to examine these plants in their native habitat, while the collection provides a living resource for scientists to understand how best to protect them and to help ensure that threatened species do not go extinct.”
Although collecting seed from the wild is strictly regulated and members of the public should not bring back seeds or plant material from abroad, there are things that the public can do to help protect trees.
These include very simple but impactful things like cleaning boots, vehicles and dogs after a visit to local woodland to help limit the spread of pests and diseases, to buying timber from sustainable sources, such as timber that is Forest Stewardship Council or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification certified.