The Derby Arboretum (1840) is one of Britain’s most important historic parks. This tour examines how and why it was created.

Designed by Scottish landscape gardener John Claudius Loudon and largely funded by the wealthy local textile manufacturer Joseph Strutt, the Derby Arboretum (1840) was one of the first Victorian public parks. It is a vitally important historic British green space which provided an influential model for the development of parks in this country and abroad, including Europe and North America. After nearly 200 years the Derby Arboretum with its international (and originally labelled) tree collection is still enjoyed by thousands of people living nearby and many visitors to the area. This guided tour explores and how and why the Arboretum was created and designed the way it was, the impact it had, and why it is so significant in the history of Derby and public parks more generally. We see how for various reasons, especially the Arboretum’s immense popularity, its design, planting and management had to adapt to changing circumstances. The tour also considers the restoration of the park, the significance of its heritage and longer-term impact, role of the Friends of the Park, and what the future holds for this beloved green lung in a modern multicultural society and world of climate crisis.