Recommended by Ann Englander 

This stunning park bursting with flowers, trees and other woodland delights is a bit of a misnomer. It is not just a tree park but twenty hectares of ancient woodland, open spaces and neatly tended beds and lawns. It is situated in Flemish Brabant, a mere 40 minutes from Brussels. 

It is beautiful all year round (from April to November) but is worth exploring in early spring when the magnolias are the main attraction or in autumn with its riot of colours. The collection is relatively young started in 1985 by Philippe de Spoelberch with contributions from specialised nurseries and the exchange of seeds and plants from botanical institutions. Twenty years later in 2005, he set up a foundation which led to the park being opened to the public. It is now a recognised world botanical body with some 2,200 species and cultivated varieties. 

Walking around the park, the visitor will notice many trees and shrubs marked with a red label. This means that these plants are considered endangered and appear on the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. 

Spring is also the time to admire not only the magnificent magnolias, among the most important collections in the world, but also the rhododendrons. The specimens of this flowering plant have been planted in a systematic layout to allow for comparisons and identification of close relatives within the genus. Autumn is another good time to visit to admire the Arboretum’s maple collection of the Acer genus. 

The Arboretum is open to the public on Wednesdays and Sundays from April 1 to November 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance ticket is 6 euros, free for children under 12. 

Grote Baan 63, 3150 Haacht-Wespelaar 

info@arboretumwespelaar.be

Photo credit : Laura Wester - Autumn view of the Artois pond