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MEETINGS | NEWSLETTER | 2006-2010 STRATEGY PLAN |
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National Arboretum, CastlewellanLast updated: Nov 1999 |  | ||
| Address: | Castlewellan Forest Park, Castlewellan, Co. Down, BT31 9BU Tel: 013967 78664 Fax: 1762 email: Michael.lear at dani.gov.uk web address: Latitude: 54° 15'20''N Longitude: 5° 57'40''W | ||
| BACKGROUND TO THE COLLECTION | |||
| Year Founded: | |||
| Ownership: | Department of Agriculture, Forest Services | ||
| Garden code: | |||
| Umbrella organisation: | PlantNetwork | ||
| PERSONNEL | |||
| Michael Lear | |||
| Contact person: | Michael Lear | ||
| Total Staff: | 4 | ||
| Total Horticultural Staff: | | ||
| POLICIES | |||
| Accessions | To cultivate the diversity of woody plants that can be grown in County Down, with the objective of representing plants at different stages, e.g. juvenile, medium age, old age, for as many as practical. | ||
| Collections | | ||
| PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT | |||
| Altitude: | |||
| Soil type: | Acid | ||
| Aspect: | Varied | ||
| Total area: | 40.4 ha | ||
| Area heated: | |||
| Other sites of collection: | | ||
| WEATHER RECORDS | Records kept (irregularly) | ||
| Temperature: | |||
| Average daily: | |||
| Av. monthly max: | |||
| Av. monthly min: | |||
| Absolute maximum | |||
| Absolute minimum | -7 °C (1995) | ||
| Wind: | |||
| direction | |||
| strength: | Average | ||
| Rainfall | |||
| Average annual | 1200 mm | ||
| Month of maximum | |||
| Month of minimum | | ||
| PLANT COLLECTION | |||
| Families | |||
| Genera | |||
| Species | |||
| Taxa | 1750 | ||
| Accessions | 3000 | ||
| Plants | 4000 | ||
| Notable plants within the collection | |||
| 39 Champion trees of Britain and Ireland and a number of orignal cultivars | |||
| Geographical area of specialisation | |||
| Western Asia, China, Eastern Asia, Australasia, New Zealand, Southwestern USA, Southern America | |||
| Special families within the collections | |||
| Cupressaceae, Podocarpaceae, Pinaceae, Liliaceae, Eucryphiaceae, Malvaceae, Myrtaceae, Aceraceae, Winteraceae, Compositae, Pittosporaceae, Araliaceae, Theaceae, Taxodiaceae, Escalloniaceae, Rosaceae, Ericaceae, Tropaeolaceae, Epacridaceae, Fagaceae | |||
| Special genera within the collections | |||
| Cupressus, Podocarpus, Abies, Cordyline, Eucryphia, Hoheria, Eucalyptus, Acer, Drimys, Olearia, Pittosporum, Pseudopanax, Skimmia, Cryptomeria, Escallonia, Arbutus, Rhododendron, Tropaeolum, Dracophyllum, Nothofagus | |||
| Special collections | | ||
| Phenological Garden | |||
| Records of living collection | Kept since 1969 Computerised | ||
| Record System | BG-Base | ||
| Plant-collecting trips | No | ||
| FACILITIES ON SITE | |||
| Herbarium | Approximately 200 specimens, in conjunction with Ulster Museum. Code BEL in Index Herbariorum | ||
| Library | 200 items, woody plants. No public access | ||
| Research facilities | No | ||
| Publications | No | ||
| Identifications: | Undertakes free identifications for the general public. Internal verification of material | ||
| Teaching and Education: | Primary, secondary, higher, taxonomic and public education | ||
| Interpretation of the material: | Supervised garden walks, signs, brochures, lectures | ||
| Friends Organisation: | Yes | ||
| Visitor facilities: | Café | ||
| ACCESS TO THE COLLECTIONS | |||
| Public access: | Admission charge | ||
| Visitors per year: | 45 000 | ||
| Public opening hours: | Mon-Sun: 10am-8pm or dusk | ||
| GUIDING PRINCIPLES BEHIND THE COLLECTION | |||
| The garden is funded by Central Government to conserve the heritage assets of the gardens and trees, and act as a showcase for biodiversity. | |||