Helen Chick of the Westonbirt Arboritum is sharing the plans for Quarter 4!

October is almost at an end and businesses have been busy planning for the end of 2023.

Today we’re talking to Helen Chick, the press and marketing officer for The National Arboretum in Westonbirt.

The National Arboretum is a magical tree garden, where you can explore trees from all over the globe. Home to 2,500 different species and 5 national tree collections, Westonbirt is the perfect place for you to escape, relax or have an adventure.

What’s coming up for your business/organisation in Q4?
Throughout October and November, autumn colour is gradually spreading throughout Westonbirt Arboretum like a magical, natural fireworks display! I love the fact that this year we are encouraging everyone to ‘get creative’ in all this riot of colour, whether it’s digging out watercolour paints when we get back indoors or simply feeling inspired to take amazing photos during a visit here. Did you know that research shows that spending time really observing the colours of nature and the outdoors is good for our health and wellbeing? Keep an eye on how autumn is looking at the arboretum with our weekly autumn watch videos, easy to find by following us on social media @westonbirtarb and from our website homepage.

Then on 24th November Christmas arrives at Westonbirt, with our magical illuminated trail running on selected evenings until 23rd December. This is something everyone who works here can’t help getting excited about! The captivating landscape and stunningly lit trees create an enchanting world full of wonder and imagination – the perfect place to create lasting memories.

Are you doing anything in October for charity or for a community or volunteer project? 
Last Saturday I joined a group of volunteers where I live in South Gloucestershire to plant wildflower seeds in our local playing fields. We are excited to see how they bloom next spring and summer and hope the flowers will bring joy to everyone spending time there next year.

Did you know October 10 was World Mental Health Day? How important is this subject in your business and in your life?
I consider World Mental Health Day, recognised 10th October, a useful reminder that we all need to give time for our own wellbeing and that of others. Here at Westonbirt, I spent my lunchbreak on 10th with a handful of colleagues to explore a few stops on our new Wellbeing trail that was installed this week. Panels along the trail prompted us to stop and really take in our beautiful surroundings. There were plenty of sights, smells and sounds to capture my attention and focus my mind. I returned to my desk feeling rejuvenated!

Some ‘quirky’ moments this month are:

*National Poetry Day – Oct 6
*World Handbag Day – Oct 10
*Do Something Nice Day – Oct 5
*Apple Day – Oct 21
*Pumpkin Day – Oct 26 

If any of these resonate with you – tell us why?
Of all the quirky moments coming up this month, Pumpkin Day on 26th Oct evokes a happy childhood memory for me. The joy of sitting and carving out the gooey insides of the pumpkin and then competing with my sisters to create the best / worst carved faces and lighting our row of pumpkins each evening over Halloween weekend. 

The clocks go back this month and we get an extra hour in bed? How do you see ‘time’ in your organisation?
Time definitely ‘chimes’ for us at Westonbirt Arboretum, in terms the different seasons, changing colours and shapes and an acute awareness of the varying  daylight hours. With shorter winter days and the dark evenings, many of us on the team will have extended working hours when the excitement of Enchanted Christmas evenings take place from 24th November through to 23rd December, whilst our popular light trail is running, and the arboretum is a hive of activity. 

Have you got any services or special offers you’d like to mention? 
From now until 30 November we have a delightful new autumn family trail ‘The Ballad of Birtha’ in the Old Arboretum, designed by  Bristol based author and illustrator Duncan Beedie. It’s been wonderful to see children and families enjoy following the trail, to find out if our woodland sprite regains her colour. A date for the family diary: Duncan will be joining us to host creative sessions for families and children in the Great Oak Hall during half term week 23-27 October. 

And finally, tell us one thing you love about the autumn/winter months?  
For me, the autumn and winter months promise that Christmas is coming - what’s not to love! I still love kicking up the leaves whilst gazing up at the multicolour autumn leaf display, which is breathtakingly spectacular at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum!

Find out more about the National Arboretum here Forestryengland.uk/westonbirt