Celebrations planned for Walsall Arboretum 150th anniversary

A million people visited Walsall Arboretum annually, the council said

Celebrations will be held next year to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of Walsall Arboretum.

The public park, officially opened on 4 May 1874, attracts a million visitors annually, according to Walsall Council.

Full details of the celebrations would be revealed in the new year but included an event over the May bank holiday weekend, a spokesperson added.

There will also be exhibitions on the history of the park and its flora and fauna.

The park, which spans 170 acres (69 hectares), is said to be home to 10,000 different species of trees and shrubs.

One landmark is the "Devil's Toe", a glacial boulder which was carried from north Wales on an ice sheet about 400,000 years ago.

Many people in Walsall and the surrounding area would have memories of the Arboretum from the past decades, councillor Gary Flint said.

"In this important year, we will be showcasing all the fantastic work [and] the people that make it what it is," he added.