Trees at Westbury Court Garden

Holm Oak

Keep an eye out for the evergreen holm oak (Quercus ilex). With its striking broad trunk, this beautiful gnarly tree is around 400 years old and is believed to be one of the oldest of its kind in the country.

Tulip tree

Striking in every season, the remarkable tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is especially spectacular between late June and mid-July, when it comes into bloom.

Its unique flowers - yellow with peachy tones - look just like tulips growing upright from the branches. At up to 10cm wide, they’re easier to spot than you might think among the leaves.
The Westbury specimen is thought to be the tallest of its kind and is over 150 years old.

Black poplars

The black poplars here form the largest collection cared for by the National Trust. These trees were once highly valued for their fire-resistant wood, often used in buildings - especially in places where fire was a risk, like mantelpieces.

Heritage apple and pear trees

Step into the orchard and explore a living history of fruit. Some varieties date back to Roman times, while others come from the Edwardian era. Each tree is labelled, making it easy to discover older and less common varieties as you wander.

Medlars

Brought to England by the Romans, the medlar was once widely prized, particularly in medieval and Tudor times. It is said to have been a favourite of Henry VIII and was also served at Queen Victoria’s table, yet today the fruit is rarely grown.

Harvested in autumn while still hard, medlars must be left to soften - a process known as ‘bletting’- before they become sweet, soft and ready to eat. Their unusual appearance has earned them a range of nicknames: in France, ‘cul de chien’ (‘dog’s bottom’), while in Britain similarly crude names emerged, appearing in the works of both Chaucer and Shakespeare.