Work is underway to make the Bath and West Showground more attractive to wildlife.

A major part of the project is the expansion of the showground's Beadle Arboretum for the Queen's Green Canopy Project.

The Beadle Arboretum was officially opened on July 31, 1983 in memory of Sir Gerald and Lady Beadle who left a bequest to the Royal Bath and West and Southern Counties Society.

Sir Gerald Beadle, CBE, became a member of the Royal Bath and West Society's Council in 1947 and was elected Vice President in 1971. He was also the Director of BBC Television and lived in Bath. Planting the trees back then wasn't an easy task, however, due to the bedrock a few inches below the surface of the ground. So the Foster Yeoman quarry at East Cranmore came to the rescue and blew 70 holes in the rock to accommodate the tree roots. A press release issued at the time said, "The choice of species in the Arboretum is intended to supplement the plantation which shelters it so well from the North, West and the South, with trees from 20-32 feet high. A plantation owner might, for instance, wish to make a feature at the entrance to, or at a point within, his own plantation. The trees and large shrubs chosen for this purpose will supply winter feed for game birds and song birds, and a display of colour ¬– either shoots, leaves, flowers or fruit – throughout the whole year." The new plantings at the arboretum have been chosen for the same reasons.

"We aim to plant, where possible, the same species that were originally planted. Importantly, these trees include native species which will be vital in providing a wildlife corridor to support the fauna and flora we have in our area of Somerset," says deputy head of shows, Jess Chiplen. "At a time when climate change and carbon neutrality is firmly in the spotlight, we are delighted to be able to do our bit for the environment while also creating a peaceful place for people to walk and rest."

To make space for the new trees, work has been done on clearing the arboretum and removing trees that were damaged or blown over during Storm Eunice. The arboretum is being expanded thanks to both monetary donations and donations of trees. Varieties being plated include: tulip trees, sapling from an ancient oak known as Billy Watkins, Fernleaf Wingnut tree, Dawn Redwoods, Copper Beech, Maidenhair tree, Pear Chanticleer, Holm Oak, Evergreen Magnolia and Japanese Cherry. Some planting has already begun, and will continue with specimens being planted at the applicable time, and as donations come in.

"Particular thanks for their early support of this initiative to Sir Henry Elwes, who has donated a fernleaf wingnut tree (Pterocarya stenoptera), from his arboretum and the offer from James and Charlotte Townshend, our Joint Presidents, of a sapling from the oak tree growing at Melbury known as Billy Wilkins and reputed to be over 900 years old," said Robert Drewett, Chairman of the Royal Bath & West Society.

The arboretum will be accessible during the Royal Bath & West Show in June, but is very much a work in progress, with the aim for it to become part of Woodlands and Countryside section of the Show in 2023. As well as the planting at the arboretum, more than 500 hawthorn saplings have been planted to form a new hedge line, and a wildflower garden is being created. Bird boxes are also being installed across the site. Ms Chiplen said: "We had so much wildlife on the Showground when we had to close due to Covid, so we are doing lots of work here to try and encourage wildlife back." This year's Royal Bath & West Show takes place on June 2-4. For more information, and to book tickets, click HERE.