Derby Arboretum Essay

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The Derby Arboretum is considered by many to be the most important work of John Claudius Loudon’s career, and the first park built in Britain that was open on select days to the public. The arboretum was open for free each weekend, allowing those who worked long hours to enjoy the outdoors during their free time in a way that they never had before. It was just eleven acres, previously covered by hay fields, and located south of the town of Derby. The arboretum was narrow and flat, and the soil was loamy, but the area did not drain well. This resulted in a small, year-round pond on the site. Initially, large, mature trees surrounded the entire area, and later, city buildings would grow up around the park and shut out the view. Just north of the park was a landscape of natural beauty including hills, streams and valleys. Unfortunately, laborers who lived in the area rarely had the luxury of enjoying the view or the outdoors. It was for them that the park was primarily designed. Joseph Strutt, the former mayor of Derby, and the man who had donated the land, gave instructions to Loudon to design a space that was inexpensive to maintain. Strutt also asked that Loudon preserve a small cottage, a tool-house, and a flower garden that already existed on the site. The design needed to include two new structures, lodges with gathering rooms, at each end of the park for the public to enter and use, free of charge. In addition, Strutt requested that the site include two large open fields for gatherings. Because botanical gardens would be too expensive and difficult to maintain, Loudon settled on a design of turf, trees, and shrubs. The original design included 1013 species. Some were native and others were not, but they all were suitable for the climate. A brick tally sat next to each tree or shrub with the name of the species and origin. Loudon

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