National Tree Week 2020

28 November - 6 December 2020

We are celebrating National Tree Week and we are launching our new Tree Walk guide around Wivenhoe Park on our Colchester Campus. Trees are vital to us. As the biggest plants on the planet, they give us oxygen, store carbon, stabilise the soil and give life to the world's wildlife. They also provide wildlife and us shelter and resources.

Wivenhoe Park is home to over 2,800 trees, including rare species and veteran trees. The variety of species and ages provide habitats for a range of animals and support the growth of fauna and funghi. Our careful stewardship of the parkland means we're the proud holder of a Green Flag Award and our Grounds team love maintaining this wonderfully tranquil place for all to enjoy.

Our Grounds Managers favourite tree is the Cedar of Lebanon. The layered plates of foliage give the tree a handsome form, accentuated by the gaps allowing a clear view through its branches. The branches can grow very long and weighty and have a tendency to break off with age.

We are launching are new Tree Walk in memory of Christopher Howard. Christopher worked with our Grounds Manager to create the original Tree Walk in 2013 and this year before he sadly passed away. He had incredibly knowledge and passion for each and every tree throughout campus which really comes through in the new guide. The tree walk takes you past some of our fascinating trees. The route of this self-guided walk starts at the end of Square 5 by the Lakeside Theatre and coffee shop. It covers part of the original parkland and will take you about an hour, or longer if you linger over some of the more interesting trees.

Download a copy of our Wivenhoe Park Tree Walk guide (.pdf).

Trees vary with the seasons because of bud, leaf, flower and fruit development. Why not repeat the walk in another season.