History Eastwoodhill Arboretum

1 history

1.1 founding
1.2 extension
1.3 trust established

history
founding

the history of eastwoodhill arboretum remain permanently connected life of william douglas cook (1884–1967). douglas cook, cookie close friends, born 28 october 1884 @ new plymouth, new zealand. in 1910, established farm of 250 hectares in ngatapa settlement, calling property eastwoodhill , after mother s family home in thornliebank near glasgow. first foundations present arboretum laid then. douglas cook started creating garden immediately. planted trees, roses, flowers, shrubs , vegetables.

during first world war, cook volunteered serve in army. in france, lost sight of right eye , subsequently stayed in scotland family recover. inspired gardens , parks of england , came in contact sir arthur william hill, later become director of kew gardens.

in 1918, @ eastwoodhill, douglas cook started planting thousands of pinus radiata wood production , fire-wood. planted eucalyptus viminalis , e. macarthurii. started creating parkland with, amongst others, platanus orientalis, different kinds of ulmus, acer pseudoplatanus , a. platanoides. in year lombardy poplars planted alongside poplar avenue later main entrance drive. in 1919 ordered 1,996 trees , shrubs , in 1920 total of 3,387, of 2 , half thousand trees , shrubs intended garden. plantings included cabbage tree avenue (restored in 2006).

planting interrupted journeys england in 1922 , 1924 in 1926 garden extended thousands of tulips, hyacinths , peonies netherlands. got serious, said biographer , former curator garry clapperton in interview john mortimer. started designing corner park, , continued cabin park, long road poland, douglas park , cathedral.

extension

in 1927, bill crooks started working @ eastwoodhill, staying on 47 years. did of farming, cook had more time beloved trees. planting of parks (parts of nowadays arboretum) started around 1927. around time, collecting of different tree species began cook. through years number of plant specimen collected reached immense proportions, 5,000 different taxa @ maximum point, @ large costs.

cook continued spend large on plants in 1930s, far more farm earned. in 1936, spent £85 (about working man s wages half year) @ 1 new plymouth nursery alone and, end of life, had spent on average £1000 annually on plants overseas , new zealand .

in 1920s, cook still finance expansion of property other income , funds, in mid-fifties, had sell 925 acres (3.74 km) of farmland further money planting new trees in circus park. @ end of life, douglas cook had invested money in arboretum. in 1965, had heart attack. never recovered , died 27 april 1967.

trust established

although eastwoodhill in 1960s praised important collection of plants, many people worried future of unique park, after cook got older , started having health problems. in 1965 heathcote beetham williams (referred h. b. (bill) williams), entrepreneur gisborne, bought property off cook intention keep collection in order, , guarantee interests in plants , trees able visit arboretum in future.