Walsall Arboretum celebrates its 150th Anniversary in 2024 and has been designated an ancient tree site by the Woodland trust.
This is the first ancient tree site in the West Midlands conurbation recognised by the charity due to the "exceptional number" of such trees.
This is wonderful news as the Arboretum celebrates its 150th Anniversary this year.
The attraction which first opened in 1874, welcomes more than a million visitors a year and has about 130 veteran trees - usually in their second or mature stage of life - with 17 of those classed as ancient, meaning they are hundreds of years old.
For Walsall Arboretum to achieve the status, the minimum criteria is an area of 100 veteran trees, of which 10 need to be ancient.
The ancient tree site includes all of the historic arboretum, plus an extension, a country park and a strip of land on the far side of a canal running up to Longwood Lane and Hay Head Wood.
The Woodland Trust said recognising the arboretum helped "to value its significance".
The designation placed the site "in the same company as Chatsworth, Richmond Park and Windsor Great Park", Walsall Council said.
To celebrate the 150th Anniversary there will be a variety of events throughout 2024.
