Her Majesty The Queen has announced her continued patronage of Westonbirt Arboretum's charity, the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum, which works in tandem with Forestry England to protect Gloucestershire's magical tree garden.
Queen Camilla, previously the Duchess of Cornwall, has been royal patron of the charity since 2005 — and with Westonbirt Arboretum just down the road from Highgrove, her private residence with King Charles III, she's been a regular visitor over the years.
Upon receiving a letter from Buckingham Palace confirming Her Majesty's continued patronage, CEO Emma Griffiths said: 'We're absolutely thrilled to have Her Majesty's continued support as our patron.
'Her endorsement will undoubtedly amplify our efforts to raise awareness about our vital conservation work and secure future funding for the arboretum.'
The announcement comes after Emma, accompanied by brand and marketing manager Jo Murray, represented the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum at the King's most recent garden party on Tuesday 21 May 2024 — a prestigious event which invites people who have had a positive impact on their community to connect with the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace.
Spanning 600 acres with over 15,000 trees to discover, Westonbirt Arboretum is one of the Cotswolds' most popular visitor sites, attracting families and nature lovers from far and wide.
The Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum provides both financial and practical support for this enchanting attraction, helping people to connect with nature and protecting Westonbirt's botanical species for generations to come.
It has recently awarded the arboretum with funds to make important accessibility improvements, updating and replacing its fleet of mobility scooters and wheelchairs, as well as to establish a community woodland.
The charity is also supporting several new initiatives at Westonbirt, including improvements to its play facilities.
