The National Pinetum team is dedicated but small. We are therefore very grateful to the Friends of Bedgebury volunteers who do stirling work every second Sunday of the month between September and May. If you are interested in helping give Friends Secretary Malcolm Dove a call on 01580 879842.
Bedgebury Friends volunteers clearing Rhododendron ponticum. Why? Because it's in danger of smothering important specimens in the collection and clearing it releases space for other plantings.
The Glory Hole - stunning display by the Rhododendrons
The spruce has got his hat on
A young Picea likiangensis cone
Newly-formed female Larix laricina cone
Heavily-scented Rhododendron luteum
Rhododendron luteum in flowerFollowing on from the success of my Chilean blog, I have decided to continue blogging, so that I can keep you informed of all the exciting things to see around the year at Bedgebury. The National Pinetum is not just a world-class conifer collection - there are many hidden gems and surprises at Bedgebury. I will use this blog to point you in their direction.
Cones
When people think of conifers the first things that spring to mind are Leyland Cypress, Christmas trees or uniformly green and non-flowering trees. However, at this time of year, they produce cones in many shapes, sizes and colours. I would like to point out some of the best of these young cones and hopefully change your mind. Check out the Tamarack larches (Larix laracina) on the bank across the lake from the visitor centre. There is a small group planted in the last few years that even at this early age a producing their beautiful small burgundy-coloured cones (the inspiration for the Bedgebury logo and corporate colour scheme).
As you walk down Dallimore valley from the visitor centre talk a few minutes to cross over to the Spruce (Picea sp) bank over to the right. At the moment many of the trees are laden with young cones varying in colour from pink and red through to purple and blue, depending on their species.
Young Douglas fir conesThe Douglas Firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca) at the far end of the Leyland cypress hedge are covered in pinky red hedgehog-like cones. Keep an eye out for the various Fir Trees (Abies sp) around the Pinetum. Many are loaded with candle-shaped cones in various colours.
Abies conesBlossom
Last winter temperatures dropped as low as minus 14 degrees centigrade (we have censors all round the Pinetum which automatically record temperatures every fifteen minutes). Despite this, we are witnessing some of the best blossom ever this spring and early summer, in particular the cherries, flowering crab apples and rhododendrons. The later flowering Rhododendrons around Marshalls Lake are well worth a look.
Some of my personal favourites at the moment are the Horse Chesnuts or Conker trees (Japanese horse chestnut Aesculus turbinata, red horse chestnut Aesculus x carnea, sweet buckeye Aeand, of course, the common chestnut) and also the Crab Apples (Malus sp.) in Dallimore Valley. But the crowning glory is the magnificent display of colour in the Glory Hole - currently at its peak. The heavy scent that you can smell all round the top end of the Pinetum is from the yellow trumpet-shaped flowers of Rhododendron luteum from Northen Turkey and Eastern Europe.
Wild flowers
Bedgebury is not all about exotic trees and shrubs. The Pinetum also provides a sanctuary rich in native flora and fauna. Wild flowers, animals, reptiles and insects thrive here due to a balanced and sympathetic approach to the management of the site. The star of the show at the moment is the common Bluebell, with its gently nodding lavender blue flowers forming a carpet at the feet of the trees. It is estimated that 70% of all the worlds Common Bluebells are found in the UK - look out for pink and white ones too.
Bluebells in Dallimore ValleyWe do request that you enjoy this unique place responsibly and don't pick any of the cones and wild flowers so that others can enjoy them too.
I hope this blog will help to make your trip to Bedgebury all the more interesting and enjoyable. I will update it regularly to keep you posted on the best things to see all round the year.
