Northern Branch - Howick Hall Gardens & Arboretum
Tuesday 21st October 2025
Howick Hall Gardens & Arboretum, Main Entrance, Alnwick, NE66 3LB
Time: 10.30 for a 11:00 tour
Howick Hall Gardens & Arboretum, known as “the hidden gem of Northumberland” is also the ancestral seat of the Earls Grey since 1319. Discover the history of the 2nd Earl, after whom the famous tea is named, wander through the beautiful gardens created by the 5th Earl Grey and his family or for the more energetic explore the arboretum a united nations of shrubs and trees covering over 65 acres.
Howick Hall Arboretum opened on 1st April 2006 and holds one of the largest collections of wild origin plants in the U.K, with a formal opening by Roy Lancaster on 29th April. Covering about 65 acres the Howick Hall Arboretum has almost entirely been grown from seed collected in the wild since 1985. Consequently there are about 11,000 trees and shrubs from about 1,800 taxa. Including a strong emphasis from China and the Himalayas, but also from East Asia, India, North America, Europe and the Southern Hemisphere.
Most of our seed collecting expeditions have been made in conjunction with Quarryhill Botanical Garden in California. Furthermore many of those expeditions to China and Japan have been led by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh. Where relevant, all have been hosted by an authorised institution in the country concerned, and collections are made conforming to CBD and CITES. Seedlings are exchanged with botanic gardens, arboreta, and gardens open to the public in the UK, while seed is exchanged with many international botanic gardens throughout the world.
It is divided into two sections, the West Arboretum, which is the smaller and adjacent to the gardens, and The East Arboretum, which is much larger but hilly. The East Arboretum has three recommended routes, a short, medium and long walk.
www.howickhallgardens.com/ howickarboretum.org/
Lunch will then be available (at your own cost) at 1.00pm in the Earl Grey Tea House Arriving by Car: There is ample parking at the main car park (NE66 3LB)
By public transport: A regular bus service runs from Newcastle to Alnwick (Aviva), then you would take the No. 418 to the entrance (Border Buses)
Cost: Members £10, Guests £15, cash on the day please or by prior bank transfer.
RSVP: Jason Daff via email: [email protected]
All members, guests and students are welcome to join this visit, please get in touch if you are interested in arranging car sharing opportunities.
