Radford Arboretum is situated in what was the North Park of Radford House, now demolished, which was a grand Tudor building, the home of the Harris Family and their successors the Bulteels. In its day the House was one of the finest in England, frequented by Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh. Radford Park is now the property of Plymouth City Council and the trees and shrubs have been planted and maintained by Tree Wardens and volunteer members of the Radford Park Committee work party with the help of Plymouth Tree Partnership, the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and Plymouth City Council. The first tree was planted in 1974 and in 1999 the Arboretum celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a commemorative book. In 2010 the Plymstock and District Civic Society was dissolved. The Arboretum is now independent and is in good heart to continue in the future under the stewardship of Radford Park Arboretum Committee and the Friends of the Arboretum.Unfortunately there is a lot of pressure from proposed development on the Park’s boundaries which will ultimately affect the whole area, including the possible sale of the historic buildings such as the Castle and St Keverne’s Quay.
Technical Information
The soil overlays limestone rock which prohibits the growing of trees and shrubs which flourish on acid soils. It has been the aim of the Radford Park Arboretum Committee to obtain at least one tree to represent each species that tolerates alkaline soil. This aim has almost been fulfilled and there are over 170 varieties growing. In addition there are collections of oaks (16 varieties), mountain ash and whitebeams (10), crab apples (11), cherries (13) and poplars (7) and various beeches.
The Arboretum, although experiencing a mainly mild climate, suffers from very strong winds and gales which damage and even kill some varieties, so a sheltered area has been developed to shield the more tender trees.
Why not enjoy a visit?
The Radford Park Arboretum Committee hopes that all interested people, including the serious student may benefit from and enjoy the Arboretum, which is situated in Radford Park at Ordnance Survey Grid Reference SX506528. The Erme-Plym Way goes through the Park and the South West Coastal Footpath passes by at the confluence of Radford and Hooe Lakes.The Park is a delightful place because of the undulating contours of the land with a lake and tree covered hill as a backdrop. It also has a 19th century “Castle” folly.
Photographs and other items of interest about the Arboretum and Park, including further details of the trees and shrubs, will be posted at later intervals.If you would like to have further information, please e-mail the Radford Park Committee Co-ordinator at radfordarboretum@yahoo.co.uk .
We would like to thank you for your interest in The Radford Arboretum