Forest bathing at Cyril Hart Arboretum

The Cyril Hart Arboretum was started in 1915 with trees brought back from China by the plant hunter Ernest Wilson. It was first called the Speech House Arboretum and was later renamed after Dr Cyril Hart, a long-serving Verderer of the Forest of Dean. Today it holds more than 200 tree species from around the world, some dating from the early 1900s. It is small and calm, and a good place to spend time with individual trees rather than walking far.

The arboretum sits beside the B4226 near the Speech House, with a free car park. Paths are mostly flat, some surfaced and some not, and the unsurfaced ones get muddy after rain. A short, unsignposted loop goes around the whole site, so you can wander without a plan. It is open every day from dawn to dusk, though it may close in stormy weather. All-terrain mobility scooters can be hired from the Speech House Hotel, and dogs are welcome on leads. The Imjin Veteran Memorial is also here.