2023 is the Year of Trees at Awbury!

Awbury Arboretum is a museum of trees. At least, this is how we describe it to visiting schoolchildren who may be unfamiliar with the word ‘arboretum’, defined as a place devoted to trees. The meaning, however, is clear as they step into the landscape. Awbury’s honored collection of trees includes a variety of native, state-champion, flowering, specimen, and heritage trees. We celebrate them by choosing 2023’s theme to be the Year of Trees.

The History & Design of the Landscape

The trees at Awbury are an essential design component in the English landscape style. Components of the landscape, designed in 1870 by William Saunders remain today. Awbury contains large copses (a forest understory containing smaller trees and shrubs) planted intentionally but meant to look naturally occurring. These copses generate hidden views and a sense of curiosity as carefully-curated vistas lay around every corner. The next time you drive up Awbury Road, take note of this understated landscaping strategy. Saunders additionally planted large Eastern White Pine trees in rows, meant to direct the eyes towards sweeping, distant views of the arboretum. Today, our — allee maintains the original design along Station Road near Washington train station.

Click here to view our Events Page to see if there are any upcoming tree events.

Upcoming Projects

In support of Awbury’s Year of Trees, the Arboretum will be the primary location for the final year of activities for S(tree)twork, a multi-year public art project in Philadelphia. The project aims “to animate how we live among trees, how we perceive them and how we imagine our future co-habitation”.

In 2023, S(tree)twork will facilitate the construction The Lightning House, a structure built on an existing barn ruin at Awbury. This space will be used for making instruments from trees that stood on Awbury’s grounds and other arts-related activities. S(tree)twork will offer a mix of tree-related programming, including a free, two-week instrument-building workshop in June that is open to a limited number of individuals, 16 years or older, that are interested in music and art.