Guided Walk of Radford Park & Arboretum

Join local historians and tree experts Graham Titchmarsh, Jenny Floyd and Kevin Warley on a guided walk of Radford Park and Arboretum.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first tree having been planted in the arboretum which has been maintained by volunteers ever since. Learn about the wide variety of trees and the history of the park during this free guided walk.

Meet outside the Beckly Centre at 5.30pm on Friday 16th May.

Radford Park Arboretum is situated in what was the North Park of Radford House, now demolished, which was a grand Tudor building, the home of the Harris Family and their successors the Bulteels. In its day the House was one of the finest in England, frequented by Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh. Radford Park is now the property of Plymouth City Council and the trees and shrubs have been planted and maintained by Tree Wardens and volunteers with the help of Plymouth Tree People, the BTCV, and Plymouth City Council. The first tree was planted in 1974 and in 1999 the Arboretum celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a commemorative book, now out of print. In 2010 the Plymstock and District Civic Society was dissolved. The Arboretum is now independent and is in good heart to continue in the future.

The Arboretum was awarded ‘ Winner’ of the Royal Horticultural Society ‘Britain in Bloom’ Community Award for 2008 and 2009 and a contributor to Plymouth’s Gold Win at the South West in Bloom 2012 ceremony.

In February, this year, Plymouth Tree People, with the help of local volunteers, planted 12 new trees in the arboretum.

The walk will stray from the paths and the ground is uneven so make sure you are wearing appropriate footwear and dress for the weather conditions.