Stone Lane Gardens Arboretum, Nursery &  Summer Sculpture Exhibition

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Stone Lane Gardens is a 5 acre arboretum holding important National Collections of wild-origin Birch and Alder trees in a lovely landscaped water & woodland setting. We are situated in the Dartmoor National Park, Devon; surrounded by beautiful scenery and yet only a few miles from the main roads. Seasonal update Winter is just around the corner.  The falling of the leaves is like the curtain being drawn back on a grand piece of theatre. The smooth peeling barks of the Himalayan birches can now truly be appreciated, as they flap and rattle in the breeze. Backlit by a lowering sun, these trees appear fringed with fire. The subtle bark colours vary from creamy pinks through oranges, reds and rich chocolate browns. When dry these barks reveal the soft bloom of white betulin on their surface, softening the underlying colours. On a wet day, the barks appear varnished, and the darker, richer colours really gleam. Our Japanese Betula ermanii stand out through the other trees, with their soft creamy orange bark. A lovely statuesque birch. The beautifully subtle colours of the Chinese red birch are also prominent; a firm favourite with visitors, who marvel at the smooth, peeling bark with its range of colours. Many visitors prefer seeing the garden in these quieter months: the summer sculpture exhibition has finished, the trees seem to take on a greater prominence and come alive. Our specialist Birch & Alder tree nursery grows most of the species shown in the arboretum. The nursery is open all year round, with trees in pots as well as in open ground. Our mail order business sends trees to customers throughout the UK. Please phone before visiting to ensure someone is available to help with your tree selection. We hope you find our website useful and look forward to meeting you soon. Kenneth & June Ashburner