Walsall Arboretum marks milestone celebration in 2024

Wednesday, 20 December 2023 18:33

Walsall Arboretum, one of the finest public parks in the Midlands celebrates its 150th anniversary next year.

The Arboretum was officially opened on 4 May 1874 by Lord Hatherton with a ceremony which included the 7th Dragoon Guards, comedy acts, a gala and fete.

Celebrations in 2024 will include an event over the May bank holiday weekend and exhibitions showcasing both the history of the Arboretum as well as its fauna and flora. Full information will be announced early in the new year.

Arboretum facts and figures:

Attracts over 1 million visitors each year.

It spans 170 acres and includes the heritage core of the park, the extension as well as Walsall country park.

The Arboretum is part of the UNESCO Black Country global Geopark with spans the region. It was formerly the site of limestone mines that were active between 1770-c.1835

Holds a place on Historic England’s National Heritage List for England, a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites

Home to 10,000 different species of trees and shrubs. A report published in July for the Ancient Tree Inventory revealed that the Arboretum boasts the highest concentration of ancient and veteran trees in the entire region

Home to the ‘Devil’s Toe’ – a glacial ‘erratic’ boulder which was carried from North Wales on an ice sheet around 400,000 years ago

Councillor Gary Flint, Portfolio Holder for Wellbeing, Leisure and Public Spaces at Walsall Council, said,

“The Arboretum is one of Walsall’s most loved and cherished attractions which holds memories for generations of people. For 150 years it has been a place for exercise, play, relaxation, community activities, as well as providing a home for wildlife and nature to flourish. In this important year, we will be showcasing all the fantastic work, the people that make it what it is, and encouraging residents and community members to connect with their local green spaces.”