June 2026

A sunny morning in June saw a group of local historians guided round the Arboretum by Kevin Powell.

The Arboretum was created in 1845, along with several other Nottingham parks, following the Enclosure Acts. The first part of the 19th Century had seen a huge growth in the population, however, there had been no growth in the built up area so conditions had become horrific, leading to various uprisings and riots.

The provision of the Arboretum was intended to give residents a pleasant place to exercise with trees and flowerbeds. In addition there was a pond, band stand and a ”Chinese” bell tower as well as aviaries and a café.

Sadly, neglect during the 20th Century lead to the loss of many flower beds. The collection of birds and animals (which some of our members remembered from their childhood) was also lost although the aviaries remain (one being a grade 2 listed building). The bell in the bell tower was replaced with a replica in the 1950s – sadly the replica has been stolen.

Some of the flowerbeds have been restored but parts are overrun with weeds and brambles. Nonetheless, the Arboretum remains a tranquil spot in the City. On our walk we saw numerous ducks and squirrels, all of whom seemed quite tame.

Kevin then gave some of us a bonus visit to the General Cemetery across the road. Here he gave us a brief history and showed us some of the war graves.