About the Arboretum
The Beale Arboretum was established by Edward Beale in 1963 with help from Frank Knight, Director of RHS Wisley and Derek Honour, Trees Consultant for the GLC.
Over more than 50 years the collection has been widened by three generations of the Beale family and now encompasses the Plant Heritage National collections of Hornbeams (Carpinus betulus cv) and Swamp Cypress (Taxodium distichum), 15 UK and regional champions as logged by the Tree Register, as well as over 800 species of trees from around the world with the total number of trees now over 4500.
The 35 acres surrounding the hotel form part of the Enfield Chase, an oasis of open space, wonderful views, and peace and quiet within the M25.
Apart from the National collections, particular species represented include Pinus, Picea, Abies, Cedrus, Quercus, Nyssa, Corylus, Juglans, Sorbus, Cornus, Cretaegus, Fraxinus, Magnolia, Gleditsia, Robinia, Acer, Sequoia, Liquidambar, Tilia, Arbutus, Araucaria, Cupressus, Davidia, Eucalyptus, Ginkgo, Malus, Pawlonia, Populus, and Taxus.
The Tree Register Champion trees include the UK and Ireland international champions Fraxinus excelsior ‘Westhof’s Glory’, Paulownia tomentosa ‘Fast Blue’, and X Cuprocyparis leylandii ‘Castlewellan Gold’. (Tree Register number 335).
A particular feature of the Beale Arboretum is the annual planting programme of over 50 specimen trees each year.
The Arboretum has received wide publicity for its beauty and interest, having been featured in The Times, The Sunday Express, Country Life, Gardener's World, The New York Times, The Radio Times and The Royal Horticultural Society Journal.
The best times of year for a visit are in the spring (May and early June), and autumn (October).
The Beale Arboretum team is made up of Paul Akers Tree Consultant to Westminster City Council, Paul Baynes Head Gardener, Dominic Beale Gardeners, and Andrew Beale Managing Director.
