The word "arboretum" was in common use during late 18th and the 19th centuries, however its meaning was simply  "a place planted with trees", having no specific scientific or educational purpose. There were a number of privately owned arboreta in existence during this period, none meeting Loudon's definition of an Arboretum, which was not recorded until  the publication of his "Arboretum Britannicum".

The First Arboretum?

Loudon stated in his comment to the Town Council on accepting their vote of thanks, September 16^th 1840: "The Derby Arboretum would not only serve as a source of recreation and instruction to the inhabitants of Derby, and its neighbourhood, but as a standard of nomenclature to that part of the country generally; the collection of trees and shrubs being one of the most extensive ever planted, and the whole having been named with a degree of correctness scarcely to be found in any other garden."

Why an Arboretum as opposed to a Botanic Garden?

Joseph Strutt had intended to create a botanical garden for the people of Derby. This would have comprised of a collection of trees, shrubs and plants, each planted and arranged with identifying labels,  many exotic plant species would have been laid out in large heated greenhouses.

Having been advised by John Claudius Loudon of the prohibitive running costs of such a project, he decided upon  "Pleasure Grounds and Public Walks" as his gift of gratitude to  the people amongst whom he lived and by whose industry he was aided in the acquisition of his wealth.

He commissioned Loudon to design these pleasure grounds and public walks, requesting also that "they should comprise of a collection of trees and shrubs from around the world, with each tree and shrub labelled as a means of "public instruction" (education).

Upon the completion of the Derby pleasure grounds and public walks, Joseph Strutt named them "The Arboretum".

Modern Dictionary Definition: "Arboretum" A place where an extensive variety of woody plants are cultivated for scientific, educational, and ornamental purposes. (Latin: Arbortum from "Arbor"  Tree).

Derby was a rapidly expanding industrial town and in order to accommodate the increase in the population, the common land was being sold off to raise capital and used for building.  The sale of Nuns Green met with a great deal of protest as this was the last large area of land that Derby people had free access to for recreational purposes, and had been recognised as such since the mid 16^th century when it was given to the people by (Bloody) Queen Mary.

'Recreation was found in informal gatherings in market places or pubs, or on walks along the public roads and footpaths that bordered the Derwent and its network of ancillary canals.

Following the 1833 Parliamentary Select Committee on public open spaces, a number of open spaces, across the country, were designated as public land. Strutt had suggested Chester Green could  be adapted for use as a public park, but the land was marshy and unsuitable. The land opposite was developed into Chester and opened in 1882.

Christopher Harris, Webmaster and amateur local historian.

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