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Friends of Castlewellan Arboretum

Friends of Castlewellan Arboretum is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the Annesley Walled Garden and surrounding arboretum. They engage the community in conservation efforts, education, and events to promote appreciation of this natural heritage.

We have organised a guided tour of Papervale Tree Nursery with Jonathan Jackson, exploring how young trees are grown, selected, and prepared for planting. This is a family run tree nursery see <a fr-original-style="" href="https://papervaletrees.com/" id="isPasted" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Papervale Trees &mdash; Homegrown Trees Across the UK &amp; Ireland</a> for more information.&nbsp; We will meet you there. By registering, you help us plan numbers, access, and guidance on the day. Please share any access needs or questions in the form below so we can make the visit welcoming and well-organised. 🌳

Members' visit to Papervale Tree Nursery

Join us for a guided walk and talk around the Arboretum/Annesley Walled Garden, exploring the intertwined stories of red squirrels and pine martens. Learn how these native species live, feed, and move through the trees, and with any luck we might spot a squirrel. We will all meet at 10.30 beside the GREEN FLAG near the main carpark, and then walk to the Stove Conservatory for Tea/Coffee, biscuits and a short talk, before heading off to see if we can spot these elusive and charming mammals around the arboretum.

Red Squirrels and Pine Martens - a Walk and Talk.

We are delighted that Rosie Maye is coming to give a talk on how to garden naturally. Rosie Maye, is better known as The Insomniac Gardener. She is an acclaimed Irish gardening writer, speaker and passionate plantswoman. From her three-acre garden near Slane, Co. Meath, she has spent over 20 years creating a beautiful landscape of woodland planting, ornamental meadows and year-round colour. She is a regular columnist for The Irish Garden magazine, and appears regularly on&nbsp;Gardeners&#39; Corner with David Maxwell. Tea/coffee and cake will be available on arrival. This event is free but donations are very welcome! This is part of Dolmens Climate Action Networks programme which is supported by PEACE PLUS, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body and facilitated by the County Down Rural Community Network.

Natural Gardening with Rosie Maye

Join a guided tour of Annesley Walled Garden, led by Robert Trotter and Sally Montgomery. Walk through the trees, beds, borders, and glasshouse area while hearing how the garden&rsquo;s history and key trees. The tour will last an hour or so. Your registration helps Friends of Castlewellan Arboretum plan group sizes and steward this unique landscape. Members are welcome to bring guests.

Members' Annesley Walled Garden Tour

Join us for an afternoon in conversation with our Patron, historian and tree enthusiast Thomas Pakenham.&nbsp;We will explore his life, and the trees that he associates with key periods of his life. Alwyn Sinnamon, Head Gardener at Castlewellan will join in the conversation. &nbsp;Thomas will also have his books for sale. Tea/Coffee and cake included. Register below to reserve your place and be part of an ongoing conversation about conservation, heritage, and the future of trees.

In Conversation with Thomas Pakenham

Join us for tea/coffee and cake at 11.00 on the Terrace in the Walled Garden. Then join a garden tour taken by our very own white badge guides, Angela Drayne and Robert Trotter. Then maybe take home some Gladioli plants with a small donation? Please note normal carparking charges apply.

Friends' Event

Join us to hear the story of the Annesley Walled Garden&rsquo;s restoration, learn about the Friends, and share your views on our key priorities for the future.

Launch Event

Recent restoration has revived the gardens, but protecting and developing this living heritage requires ongoing care, research, conservation, and new planting beyond core public funding. By joining the Friends, you help safeguard rare species, preserve historic features, support education, and ensure the Arboretum continues to thrive for future generations.Join us &mdash; and help grow the future. You can also gift a membership to someone who you know. Ready to make a difference? Start your journey by becoming a member now!

Recent restoration has revived the gardens, but protecting and developing this living heritage requires ongoing care, research, conservation, and new planting beyond core public funding.By joining the Friends, you help safeguard rare species, preserve historic features, support education, and ensure the Arboretum continues to thrive for future generations.Join us — and help grow the future. You can also gift a membership to someone who you know.Ready to make a difference? Start your journey by becoming a member now!

Membership

Your donation helps the future sustainability of Castlewellan Arboretum and Annesley Walled Garden&nbsp;its historic collections, heritage features and biodiversity. Every contribution supports additional restoration and planting. It does not go to the day to day care as that is the responsibility of NMDDC. Thank you for your support.

Your donation helps the future sustainability of Castlewellan Arboretum and Annesley Walled Garden its historic collections, heritage features and biodiversity. Every contribution supports additional restoration and planting. It does not go to the day to day care as that is the responsibility of NMDDC.Thank you for your support.

Donations For Plants

Join a small group of ambassadors exploring the Ring of Gullion within the AONB Geopark. This guided tour will highlight the landscape, heritage, and trees. 🌿 Your visit will help deepen local understanding of conservation, careful stewardship, and shared responsibility for these special places. Please use this form to confirm your place. 🚶&zwj;♂️

Ambassadors Geopark AONB tour Ring of Gullion

To celebrate Tree Week, explore the remarkable Champion Trees of Castlewellan Arboretum on a guided walk led by Angela Drayne and Robert Trotter. Learn how these trees earned their &ldquo;champion&rdquo; status and hear some of the stories behind their planting, care, and survival. Meet at the entrance of the Annesley Walled Garden. Normal carpark charges apply.&nbsp; Please ensure you leave plenty of time to walk to the Garden from the main carpark.

Champion Trees Tour

Marking 250 years since the foundation of the United States of America, we are delighted that Michael Lear&nbsp;has agreed to give a talk about the about heritage and impact of North American trees at Castlewellan. Michael was employed by the Forest Service from 1997 to 2005 as the Curator of the Arboretum. &nbsp;He has also been Board Trustee at <a href="https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/marks-hall-estate" target="_blank" fr-original-style="" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;"></a>Kew Gardens and a member of the National Trust Gardens Advisory Panel. He currently serves on the Committee of the Northern Ireland Heritage Gardens Trust and is Co-Director and Landscape Architect at&nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/lear-associates" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Lear Associates</a>. Working with his wife, Beverley Lear his Co-Director at Lear Associates, Michael surveyed the Garden and surrounding areas as part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund Project, writing key documents which enabled funding of the project with a valuable database and plans for its restoration.

Friends of Castlewellan Arboretum

Events

Events

Ambassadors Geopark AONB tour Ring of Gullion

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Champion Trees Tour

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Castlewellan Arboretum with Michael Lear

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Donations For Plants

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