Your Custom Text Here
The Tree Health Centre project has taking a huge leap forward over the last week. The scaffolding has been removed from the outside of the building, and Hobson & Porter are now beginning to work on the interior finishing.
#yorarb #yorTHC #treehealth #healthytreeshealthyfuture
The Yorkshire Arboretum has announced that artist and birding enthusiast Jonathan Pomroy will begin a year-long tenure as Artist-in-Residence.
Based in Gilling East, Jonathan has been a regular visitor to the arboretum since moving to the area in 2010 with the highlight being the first to see the rare, large flock of Hawfinches that settled there over the winter in 2017/18. Working predominantly in watercolour, but also experimenting with oils, charcoal and pencil, Jonathan’s exhibition will emphasise the benefits to us all of observing nature throughout the year.
In his own words, “I have already been putting the hours in as artist-in-residence. How could I miss the splendour of autumn? I have relished painting the landscapes and getting to know the hidden corners and individual trees. I am keen to heighten awareness of the relationship birds have with trees – the last few weeks have seen many sketching visits, sometimes for Hawfinches, but also Redwings, Fieldfares, Goldcrests and that pine specialist, the Crossbill.”
As part of his residency, Jonathan will engage with visitors through social media and blogging regularly from the arboretum, as well as running small outdoor workshops – dates will be confirmed in the New Year.
An exhibition of the body of work Jonathan produces during his year-long residency will run from Friday 17th September to Monday 18th October 2021, featuring original paintings, prints and other merchandise.
Stay up to date with Jonathan by following him on social media: Twitter @JonathanMPomroy Instagram @PomroyJonathan
Cladding for the Tree Health Centre has arrived, very kindly donated by Shelmore Timber, Norbury Park Estate. Shelmore Timber cladding is sourced from their own mature woodlands on the 1,500-acre Norbury Park and Ranton Estates.
Read about Shelmore Timber’s provenance and sustainability here.
#yorarb #yorTHC #treehealth #healthytreeshealthyfuture
Locally-based artist Meg Huby will introduce an all-new exhibition of work based on her year as Artist-in-Residence at the Yorkshire Arboretum, from 18th September to 19th October. Meg began her residency in the autumn of 2019, and brought together "A long-term fascination with the ecology of trees and a relatively new interest in making art.” Meg, who began her career as a biologist before becoming a lecturer in social policy at the University of York, discovered a passion for drawing and painting six years ago.
The exhibition, ‘The Yearly Trick of Looking New’, will including pieces of Meg’s work produced during her residency. It celebrates transience and change in nature while recognising the interdependency between all forms of life and the crucial role of the arboretum in tree protection. The title is drawn from Philip Larkin’s poem, ‘The Trees’.
In her own words, Meg’s artistic style tries to “find a way between [photorealism and pure abstraction]. The tension between them is like the tension between the solid physicality and apparent permanence of life in the arboretum and its transient, constantly changing nature. Absorbing the arboretum from all angles – observing, sketching, photographing and reading – informs and influences my paintings and prints.” Her approach involves a great deal of experimentation with materials and techniques. “The oil paintings are built upon layers of underpainting and glazing and use different types of support. A favourite tool is an electric hand-sander!”
The exhibition will feature original artwork – with oil and watercolour paintings, collagraphs and eco-prints – as well as a small selection of printed greetings cards. It is free to view in the arboretum visitor centre. Protective face coverings should be worn while viewing the exhibition.
Find Meg on Instagram @MegsterArt
More progress made to the Tree Health Centre - the roof is now in place and insulated with skylights and glass panels fitted.
#yorarb #treehealth #yorthc
Progress to the Tree Health Centre has been rapid, with the timber frame, roof and internal structures added this week. Insulation is also in place, as well as several windows.
#yorarb #yorTHC #treehealth
The Yorkshire Arboretum reopened on 8th June, offering 120 acres of peace and tranquillity on the historic Castle Howard estate. With COVID-19 lockdown restrictions easing, the arboretum is a perfect place to escape to and experience outstanding natural beauty safely. With sweeping vistas, wildflower meadows and peace hidden glades to explore, the Yorkshire Arboretum offers visitors a taste of the natural world away from these uncertain and troubling times.
The arboretum has adapted to the necessity of restricting the spread of Covid-19 by introducing new visiting times and an online booking system, as well as a new reception cabin and a one-way flow system to ensure social distancing; sadly the Visitor Centre and Arboretum Café are still closed. General admission is from 12-4pm daily; exclusive entry for arboretum members is 10am-12pm. Booking visits in advance is easy using the arboretum’s new online booking facility, which is available at: www.yorkshirearboretum.org/admission-booking
Yorkshire Arboretum Director, Dr John Grimshaw, said: “I am delighted to see the arboretum open and full of life again after the strange quiet of the past few months. It’s lovely to chat to returning visitors and members, and to hear how much they’re enjoying being here in such a safe and secure environment. Our vast lawns are perfect for picnicking with your family, and at the moment the wildflower meadows are at their peak, full of flowers including lots of wild orchids – or look for the huge numbers of tiny baby toads emerging from the lake. There’s something to inspire everyone here- and plenty of space to explore.”
CHANGING CHAIRS
After nine years, Professor Alastair Fitter CBE, FRS, has stood down as Chair of the Castle Howard Arboretum Trust at a recent board meeting held by Zoom. Following tributes and thanks for his dedicated service to the Trust Alastair was presented with a painting of an arboretum scene by artist-in-residence Meg Huby. Following an advertising and application process, the Trust has appointed Greville Worthington as new Chair. Until recently Greville was Chair of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, but he has a keen interest in trees, growing many maples and bamboos at his home near Catterick
Today, the steel frame, which forms the basis of the Tree Health Centre’s structure, has been manoeuvred into position. This photo shows the team from our contractors, Hobson & Porter, positioning the first few girders in the morning sunshine.
Our 2020 events guides are now available!
Read moreYorkshire & Lincolnshire based construction firm Hobson & Porter Ltd have won the contract to build the UK’s first Tree Health Centre. The Yorkshire Arboretum, located near Castle Howard in North Yorkshire, has raised funds to build and operate the UK’s first purpose-built facility to expand public awareness about the threats to our trees posed by an increasing number of pests and diseases, and the need to keep our trees as healthy as possible. Capital funding for the project has come from the Peter Sowerby Foundation, £286,000 of the Government’s Local Growth Fund, secured by the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership (YNYER LEP) and from private donations. Start up and operating funding has come from The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund.
Designed by SALT Architects of Beverley, East Yorkshire, the Tree Health Centre will offer training courses given by specialists and cater to all levels of expertise. Following successful pilot courses held in 2018, the centre will offer training on a commercial basis mixing classroom, lab and outdoor learning settings, as well as a public outreach programme.
Yorkshire Arboretum Chief Operating Officer Mathew Harrison says: “We are delighted to announce Hobson & Porter Ltd as building contractors for the Tree Health Centre. The company has strong links across Yorkshire with a proven track record of delivering third sector projects – they are keen to promote environmental preservation, and we believe their approach matches our core strategy and values.”
Sam Alexander, chair of YNYER LEP’s Skills and Employability Board, said: “The natural environment plays a vital role in our social and economic health as a region. It is crucial we have the skills available to protect Yorkshire landscapes and contribute to tree health in the UK and beyond. With the help of funding secured by the LEP, this specialist knowledge centre will build the capacity in the region to protect tree health and lead the way for others. We’re pleased to see the project reach this latest milestone.”
Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, Jake Berry, said: “We’re deeply committed to boosting economic growth and levelling up our communities across the North and the Midlands.
“It’s great to hear that thanks to over £285,000 from the Local Growth Fund, the UK’s first Tree Health Centre is being built right here in the Northern Powerhouse and will safeguard the region’s natural environment for future generations to come.”
Arboretum Director John Grimshaw said ‘We’ve been planning this building for ages, and it’s so exciting to see works starting at last. We look forward to delivering sound advice on the management of healthy trees for a healthy environment – a critical issue for us all.’
We are delighted to announce that Meg Huby will begin her year-long tenure as Artist-in-Residence in October 2019.
Meg, who began her career as a biologist, forged a lifelong bond with the natural world and an interest in human impacts, both good and bad. Her working life in science and public policy has been a source of inspiration for her artwork in a range of media from paint to print.
In her own words, “the natural world is endlessly changing and cycles of dereliction and regeneration in the man-made world reflect decay and growth in nature. The Yorkshire Arboretum itself constantly changes in a cycle of breakdown and regrowth.” Meg hopes to produce work that raises awareness about the transience of living things and the vital contribution made by trees to both human and environmental well-being.
She adds, “This residency is incredibly exciting, and the opportunity to explore the arboretum environment through all the seasons will provide fantastic inspiration. It’s an absolute privilege and I am looking forward to creating a whole new range of work.”
Meg is a passionate advocate of art as something that anyone can take part in and enjoy. During her residency, she is keen to encourage visitors to join in with the process of drawing and painting, and experience how this “can offer new and different ways of understanding the natural environment.” She will host a small programme of events at the arboretum throughout her time there, with the first – an informal day session for people of all abilities and experience called ‘Trees Undressed’ – taking place on Wednesday 6th November.
An exhibition of the body of the work Meg produces during her year-long residency will run from 18th September to 19th October 2020, featuring original paintings, prints and other merchandise.
The Yorkshire Arboretum is open to tenders for the construction of a new Tree Health Centre
Project summary
The project is the construction of a new tree health centre including external works and landscaping. The new building is a partially suspended timber frame with larch cladding, a flat roof and curtain wall glazing. The new centre adjoins the existing visitors centre and also creates a new feature walkway leading on to a belvedere viewing platform. For access to the planning conditions and a full ancillary of tender documentation for review and contract construction information please email business@yorkshirearboretum.org
1. The Project and Site
1.1 The Employer
The Castle Howard Arboretum Trust
The Estate Office
Castle Howard
YORK
YO60 7DA
1.2 The Design Team and Project Team
The Employer has appointed a team of professional consultants for the Project. The Design Team comprises:
The Architect/ Contract Administrator/ Principle Designer
Salt Architects
54 Lairgate
Beverley
HU17 8EU
The Quantity Surveyor
Andrew Taylor Quantity Surveying Ltd
Mill Lodge
Mill Street
Hutton
Driffield
YO25 9PU
The Structural/ Civil Engineer
Scott Hughes
Unit 3
Cross York Street Studios
Leeds
LS2 7BL
The M&E Consultant
LEDA
Micklewaite House
70 Cross Green Lane
Leeds
LS9 0DG
Project Title, Site and Location
Project Title
Tree Health Centre
Site
The site is located within the existing visitors centre and the New Tree Health centre will extend the existing building to form one large centre. Works include formation of a new walkway with tree planting and a belvedere viewing platform.
Location
The Yorkshire Arboretum
Castle Howard
York
YO60 7BY
Our 2019 events and Open Gardens programmes are available in the Visitor Centre. Alternatively, download a digital copy below:
Photo by Anne Ainsley
We are thrilled to say that the arboretum lake has been restored to its former glory with a new pond-dipping platform also installed. A fine new path circuits the water, enabling visitors to get close to the banks Japanese maples, already flaming in brilliant colour as we head into autumn.
The Castle Howard Arboretum Trust
T/A The Yorkshire Arboretum
Castle Howard, York, YO60 7BY
01653 648598
visit@yorkshirearboretum.org
Registered charity: 1044931
