Derby Arboretum

Derby Arboretum Park

Derby Arboretum Park, water fountain

Derby Arboretum Park in Spring

Derby Arboretum Park

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) updates

Nov 2020 - Following the Government’s change in guidance, visitors can continue to enjoy and make more use of Derby’s parks and open spaces.

The Derby Parks team are asking all park users to be considerate and continue to use social distancing to keep themselves and each other safe.

Derby Parks and the following activities will remain open in line with government guidelines:

Playgrounds - for more information visit the Government guidance for playgrounds
Cafes, with a take-away service (weather permitting)
Park Toilets

The following facilities are closed in line with government guidelines:

Wheeled sports areas (skate parks and BMX tracks)
Outdoor Gyms
Tennis Courts
Bowls
Grassroots Football
Golf
Multi-use games areas

All community centres are closed, except for existing bookings that are exempt activities.

Please follow government guidance on use of the above facilities.

For more information visit Derby Parks COVID-19 updates news page.

Derby Arboretum, also informally known as Arboretum Park and The Arboretum, is famous for being Britain's first public park. It is picturesque with a fine collection of trees, and is Grade II* listed.

The Arboretum was the first specially designed urban park in Britain. Joseph Strutt commissioned and donated the park for the benefit of citizens of Derby in 1840. The intention was a botanical tree garden for instruction as well as leisure.

John Claudius Loudon designed, constructed and planted the gardens, while EB Lamb designed the two Tudor style lodges. Some of the trees are listed on the British Isles Tree Register, a catalogue of notable trees in the country recorded by the Forestry Commission.