Latest News - February 2024
Tuesday 27th February
Luke from AT Services attended the visitor centre today. Very helpfully he has capped the damaged water pipes and restored the water supply to the building. This means that we now have running water.
I am therefore happy to announce that we have one functioning toilet and the visitor centre will now be reopened. A quotation for repairs to the unisex toilet is being prepared. Hopefully work will start soon.
The latest bird blog by our resident expert Phil Taylor has just been published. Read about the recent bird activity in the arboretum. Latest Bird Blog
As Spring rapidly approaches we are beginning to see the first blossoms appearing on trees, as well as snowdrops and daffodils flowering.
Tuesday 13th February
Since my arrival at the arboretum in October 2022 the site has suffered periods of persistent vandalism. Usually this has consisted of minor damage, such as tossing the lifebelt into the pond, pushing over a sign and the dropping of litter.
There are periods when all goes quiet and then suddenly it starts again. Unfortunately, after a period of inactivity we suffered a spate of vandalism last week. This is most likely to have occurred late last Friday afternoon, 9th February.
The lifebelt ended up in the pond, again. Two signs were uprooted, including the Sir David Attenborough memorial planting plaque. The story-telling box was cracked, the lid removed so exposing the childrens' books to the elements, and some books thrown in the dirt.
Most appallingly of all the unisex toilet was trashed. As a result the water supply to the visitor centre has had to be turned off and the toilets closed until repairs are made.
The university is now looking into the matter. The likely culprits are known to me. You may find that the main gates from Carisbrooke Road are closed at certain points in the day. I am hoping this action will reduce the chances of a recurrence. The arboretum is open as normal, but access may at times have to be through the College Court complex on Knighton Road.