Probably the most beautiful business in Gloucestershire
It is internationally important, a place of magic, healing, education and conservation, but more than the leaves have been changing at Westonbirt Arboretum - there’s been little short of a revolution.
Dear readers,
We hope you had a great weekend.
For those who missed Friday’s edition. Beneath the headline about Julian Dunkerton’s plans for an iconic Cheltenham venue were two other stories about Levelling Up cash coming to Gloucestershire.
It’s easy to get cynical about Government’s showboating about giving us our own money, but that aside this money is significant. CyNam, the county’s influential cyber-centric sector group representing the cluster of cyber firms gathering here in Gloucestershire certainly thinks so.
Some £20 million of that cash will smooth the way for the ‘£1 billion’ Golden Valley Development, which will be home of a new National Cyber Centre (we covered the story on Friday here).
And for Gloucester, there’s the promised £11 million is also about to become a reality. For a city that needs to keep its momentum if it is to achieve its ongoing renaissance the project this will fund in the inner city Greyfriars area is vital (There’s more detail on Friday’s edition on that one too).
But now comes an apology….
I did the interviews for the huge main article below about three weeks ago, and if things had worked out better you may have read it and had time to plan a visit to the ‘business’ in question to witness a simply wonderous, lifeaffirming spectacle. If trees had an answer to the spectacle of the Northern Lights, this is it. As it happens, you might still make it in time.
We are talking about Westonbirt Arboretum, our National Arboretum, hiding here in Gloucestershire in plain sight. We take a look at a key relationship at its heart, a small charity and its leadership - and why it is key to making this wonderous place a commercial, cultural and environmental success of international significance.
A special thanks to Emma Griffiths, ceo of that charity - the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum - and Andrew Smith, the ceo of the arboretum itself, (and the team at APT Marketing. They will know why!!).
I’m afraid this article is so long there’s little room for anything else!
Have a great week.
Andrew Merrell.
If you have a story, an issue, a news item, a charity or an interview, you want us to write about or investigate, challenge the powers that be on, please email me: andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk.
NB: Raikes publishes probably the best-read business-related newsletter, pound for pound, in Gloucestershire.
* Everything you read on The Raikes Journal is made possible by our incredible Founding Partners: QuoLux, Willans LLP, Gloucestershire College, Merrell People and Randall & Payne, our sponsors Hartpury University and Hartpury College, our Founding Members and wonderful paying subscribers.
If you upgrade to paid you’ll be part of this community interest company too. In an era when local journalism is all but gone and websites covered in pop-ups and full of advertorials, lists and unedited press releases, we are dedicated to delivering quality journalism for Gloucestershire, to championing the county, in particular its businesses, charities, education and training providers and to helping create an even stronger community. If you upgrade to paid you will be able to see past the paywalls on our second and third email editions of the week, that lock all our archive after two weeks and lock our rolling Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire, the series that follows the financial fortunes of our biggest firms by turnover. You will be able to comment on our stories too. You’ll be helping make this CIC sustainable. Please do join us.
If you sign up now you can take advantage of our 30 per cent off offer - and become a member for a year for just £84, which works out at £7 a month or £1.62 a week!
Lifechanging relationships
If you ever get the chance to speak to any of the dedicated team that runs Young Gloucestershire they might tell you about the rise of young people seeking out or referred to them for support. That’s not just families on the breadline, at the very coalface of the cost of living crisis etc, that’s across the board, regardless of class, social status, income, or school. Which is why the money raised by firms like Willans LLP is worth shining the spotlight on. The Cheltenham law firm has just handed over £5,515.13 for its 2022 - 2023 fundraising year to the charity, which is headquartered at Gloucester Docks. Willans total fundraising for the last decade has now topped £120,000. Other beneficiaries have included Sue Ryder, National Star College, LINC, Maggie’s and Cheltenham Animal Shelter. Going into 2025 it’s Cheltenham Open Door. That’s from just one single firm. When you think how many there are in Gloucestershire it makes you realise how important those relationships between businesses and their communities are.
A thought for Thursday…
🔊 Members of the business community are invited to connect with like-minded leaders and listen to two inspirational speakers share their experiences of growing their companies. The event is due to be staged at The Gloucester Growth Hub on Thursday 7 November with proceeds from the ticket sales going to The Nelson Trust. On the bill are Deborah Lamplugh, founder of Forthay Granola, and Deborah Flint, managing director of family business Cinderhill Farm. Azets, Benefact Group, Meta Advisors, and WSP Solicitors are the sponsors. The event will raise vital funds to help individuals recover from alcohol and substance misuse. Tickets are £15. Find out more here.
Probably the most beautiful business in Gloucestershire
It is internationally important, a place of magic, healing, fun, education and conservation, but more than the leaves have been changing at Westonbirt Arboretum - there’s been nothing short of a quiet revolution.
By Andrew Merrell
If the seasons are nature’s catwalks for trees autumn is the pick of all of them if you want to witness Westonbirt Arboretum dressed to its absolute best – in its most eye-catchingly, jaw-droppingly stunning colours.
Each year the magic of senescence (the changing colours of its leaves to you and I) works siren-like on our senses, drawing thousands to experience its spectacle and casting such a spell that many of us never truly leave.
And when those leaves are gone the light installations are turned on, spreading through the mostly bare branches, adding atmosphere and spectacle to the dark winter nights, and helping to sustain a magic that draws thousands to the trees every year.
You think we’re getting carried away?
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Raikes Journal to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.