Congleton: Double Jubilee celebration at the Lovell Quinta Arboretum

By Alex Greensmith

6th May 2022 | Local News

Professor David Skidmore, Jeannie France-Hayhurst, Lady Redmond, and Viscount Ashbrook. (Image - Sara Walker)
Professor David Skidmore, Jeannie France-Hayhurst, Lady Redmond, and Viscount Ashbrook. (Image - Sara Walker)

A special celebration has been held at a peaceful green space in Congleton.

For the Lovell Quinta Arboretum, a 28-acre site in Swettenham near Congleton, 2022 is a year of double celebration.

Not only is it the Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of her reign, but it's also the Diamond Jubilee of the Tatton Garden Society (TGS), marking 60 years since the Society's creation.

The Tatton Garden Society is the parent charity of the Arboretum and has been running the site since 2003. 

Lady performs the opening ceremony. (Image - Sara Walker)

Sir Bernard Lovell, who originally created the Arboretum which is now named in his honour, planted many of the avenues and features in celebration of life events. These include the Reith Avenue, planted to celebrate his series of Reith lectures in the 1950s, and many others.

Following in this tradition, the TGS have created the 'Jubilee Malus Avenue' of 18 malus (crab apple) trees at the Arboretum to mark the double celebration.

The official opening took place on last last month, on a beautifully warm, sunny, spring day.

The opening ceremony was performed by Lord Lieutenant Lady Alexis Redmond.

Malus (crab apple) trees are an excellent source of early pollen for insects, and here for guests to enjoy the presence of at the Arboretum. (Image - Sara Walker)

In attendance were Sir Phil Redmond; the High Sheriff of Cheshire Jeannie France-Hayhurst; the Viscount Ashbrook, President of Tatton Garden Society; Professor David Skidmore, Chair of Tatton Garden Society; Viscountess Ashbrook; Past Lord Lieutenant David Briggs, Deputy Lieutenant Rob Barrow and Mrs. Pam Barrow; William Robinson, managing director of Robinsons' Brewery (owners of the neighbouring Swettenham Arms pub); representatives from the Jodrell Bank Observatory and National Gardens Scheme; and members of Sir Bernard's family.

The event, which included a drinks reception, was organised by TGS members Victoria Wrather and Alex Ellison and was attended by over 50 people including members of the Society and volunteers from the Arboretum who do a wonderful job of keeping the site in its present beautiful condition. 

Queen Elizabeth II's reign and the Arboretum also have another thing in common, both being established in the 1950s.

In her opening speech, Lord Lieutenant Lady Redmond said: "There are now more than 2,500 trees and shrubs in the Arboretum, which is an internationally recognised collection. As well as being a resource for members it is open to the public and is widely valued as a recreational place of tranquillity by the local community and visitors to Cheshire being visited by at least 8,000 people a year. The trees being planted in the Jubilee Malus Avenue are to commemorate HM The Queen's Platinum Jubilee and we are doing this on the Queen's Birthday of 21 April.

Lady Redmond, new High Sheriff of Cheshire Jeannie France-Hayhurst and Professor David Skidmore discuss the new avenue. (Image - Sara Walker)

"They are part of the Queen's Green Canopy where everyone across the UK is being encouraged to play their part in enhancing our environment by planting trees to create a legacy in honour of the Queen's leadership of the Nation which will benefit future generations."

Professor David Skidmore added: ""We are planting crab apple trees which have wonderful spring blossom and colourful fruit in autumn. These are a traditional fruit in Cheshire, known in dialect as wharres. They are a symbol of joy and we hope will be things of joy into the future."

The Lovell Quinta Arboretum is located in Swettenham Village, near Congleton, Cheshire CW12 2LF (behind the Swettenham Arms). For more information on the Congleton beauty spot please visit this webpage.

Dogs on leads welcome. Entrance £2.50. Visitors are welcome to park at the Swettenham Arms if staying on for a drink or food. To find out more about the Queen's Green Canopy visit this webpage

Got a business to promote in Congleton? Advertise it for FREE on the Congleton Nub News Local List.

Congleton: Have you signed up for our FREE Friday weekly newsletter? It contains each week's essential Congleton news stories, and one EXCLUSIVE article?

Close to 4000 of you have signed up already. Simply enter your email address in the shaded box below or on this link.

Free from pop-up ads, or unwanted surveys, Congleton Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

You can find us on Facebook and Twitter.

     

New congleton Jobs Section Launched!!
Vacancies updated hourly!!
Click here: congleton jobs

Share:

Related Articles

A Sandbach man has been arrested and charged with three separate incidents in Congleton.  (Photo: Nub News)
Local News

Man charged with multiple offences in Congleton

Congleton Town Council is anticipating another fantastic turnout for the Congleton Remembrance Service at the Lawton Street Cenotaph on Sunday 10 November (Congleton Town Council).
Local News

Congleton to fall silent for Remembrance Sunday event this weekend

Sign-Up for our FREE Newsletter

We want to provide congleton with more and more clickbait-free local news.
To do that, we need a loyal newsletter following.
Help us survive and sign up to our FREE weekly newsletter.

Already subscribed? Thank you. Just press X or click here.
We won't pass your details on to anyone else.
By clicking the Subscribe button you agree to our Privacy Policy.