About our National Collection
Keele University has been planted with flowering cherries since the first ornamental grounds were laid out in the late 1940s. Since then various flowering cherries have been added around the campus to the extent that springtime on the campus has become synonymous with cherry blossom. This is now one of the defining features of the campus.
In 2000 the University’s Arts Committee met to discuss how we could best utilise our magnificent grounds, its flora and fauna to better integrate us with the local community.
The committee decided to set up an arboretum and, as part of the arboretum, it was decided that we needed a focus; something to make us different to other collections in the area. As we already had some mature Flowering Cherries, we decided that they would be our speciality. Coincidentally Mr Chris Sanders, a part-time lecturer for Keele Adult Education, was retiring as Production Director from the nearby plant nursery at Bridgemere and was looking for somewhere to house his small collection of flowering cherries. So it was that in 2001; 25 years ago this year, we planted the first Flowering Cherries.
In 2008, friends and family of John Ivinson a former student who died tragically, donated some money in his memory which enabled us to buy a further 80 trees. From then on, the collection began to grow with donations and monies from other families in memoriam and from the University’s Key Fund but also from the extraordinary, and continuing, generosity of Phil Davies; an alumnus of Keele who met his wife here.
We planted trees wherever there was space across campus which is why they are so scattered. Running out of planting space we approached John Downing, Head of Grounds to see if we could find somewhere that we could safely plant more trees, and he came up with the field below the Walled Garden that we now know as the Memorial Garden.
Currently we have around over 300 trees of 240 species and varieties. We cannot claim to have displays matching those of the Hanami flower festivals in Japan but, as they mature, the cherries are looking better and better!
In March 2012 our collection was awarded National Collection status by Plant Heritage. Only 7 other universities hold National Collections and most of these are in the Russell group, putting us in very good company!
The Collection was officially opened on 30th April, 2014 by Professors Philip Davies and Pat Bailey.
L to R: Pat Bailey, Dave Emley, Peter Thomas, Philip Davies
We are particularly grateful to Keele Alumni who, in memory of John Ivinson (1963-1967), funded many of these trees and to Professor Philip Davies for his major contribution. We are also grateful Chris Sanders who advised on and sourced the majority of these trees. A biography of Chris is available here.
In 2025 the Collection received the Award of Commendation from the Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki. It is an award given to recognise individuals or groups who have helped to strengthen ties between Japan and other countries.
L to R : Founders of the Collection Graham Lees, Dave Emley and Chris Sanders with Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki, Peter Thomas appeared via video.