Nottingham Live Music Festival

  The Arboretum Park, Nottingham   

The Arboretum was the first public park in Nottingham. The layout and design was carried out under the supervision of Samuel Curtis in 1850. The grand opening took place on the 11th May 1852 with approximately 15,000 people present.

The park was designed as a botanical collection and a place for relaxation and tranquility, forming a star attraction in the hub of Victorian Nottingham.

Since the opening Nottingham Arboretum has provided a city haven for all to enjoy. It is the closest park to the city centre

Today the layout of the park is relatively unchanged, providing a key asset to Nottingham’s Victorian heritage. The Arboretum is Grade II listed on the Register of Historic Parks & Gardens maintained by English Heritage and contains a number of Grade II Listed structures within its layout.

Over the last century a number of features have been added to enhance the park and provide more activities and interest for park users. In 2002 a series of restoration works were completed through funding by the Heritage Lottery Commission.

The key restoration works included the Bell Tower (c1862), Bandstand (c1881), and Circular Aviary (c1892) along with various minor projects around the park. These restored features once again can provide a quality resource to the people of Nottingham.

The Arboretum has a detailed Management Plan that is being implemented by the Park Manager and works team. Future plans include restoration works to the lake, entrances and remaining structures, along with the botanical collection.

History of the Botanical Collection

Samuel Curtis was commissioned to design Nottingham Arboretum.  His background was as a Botanist and Horticultural publicist. He had previously been involved with the design and layout of ‘Victoria Park’  in the East End of London in 1842.

The main aim of the design for Nottingham Arboretum was to take advantage of the landscape setting whilst providing an interlinking network of walkways and socialising areas.  The plantings were laid out in what is known as ‘The Natural Order’ to provide an educational link to nature through botanical interpretation.  The park would provide the people of Nottingham with a place for relaxation and stress relief within the confines of this ‘Gardenesque’ setting whilst encouraging interaction with a host of plants.

Records from the ‘Nottingham Arboretum Opening Booklet’ of 1852 provide a detailed account on the botanical order and the general arrangement of the plantings. The original engraved plan shows key areas where trees and shrubs were to be located and portrays the general structure of walkways and landforms defining the park.

The mature trees and shrubs growing here today are living relics of the original collection. Many new species have been planted to maintain the Arboretum as a botanical collection for future generations.

Key Attractions

The main attractions within the park include the Bandstand, Bell Tower,  Aviaries, lake, Entrance Lodge, Arboretum Rooms (Now a Public House),  and various structures that have been incorporated since 1852.

Located within the main grounds are a series of specialist gardens and borders designed to provide seasonal interest or define a specific collection of plants.  These include the Flower Garden, Dell Garden, and Healing Garden. There is an annual ‘Carpet Bed’ display, the famous ‘Dahlia Border’ and various planted display areas.

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