Arboretums Distinguished For Merit By The IDS

The IDS has been awarding plaques since 1978. In our 50th anniversary publication in 2002, Dick van Hoey Smith wrote:

"A very important activity of our society has been and still is the awarding of our Conservation Plaque. This award has never been intended to be only an appreciation of the quality and beauty of an arboretum. If that had been, so many arboreta would be entitled to receive it. It is meant to assist arboreta that are in difficulties, either financial or threatened in other ways i.e. by town development plans. As a matter of fact, our society first has to make sure that the quality of the trees is good and that the management is capable and willing to continue in future."

We have awarded just 23 plaques over 47 years, and the committee concluded there is good reason to continue to award them, to acknowledge and support those who look after arboreta and help to inform the world about trees and their variety and importance.

All possible candidates for plaques should reach a certain standard, and by this we mean equivalent to Level II accreditation on the ArbNet system: "Level II arboreta have at least 100 species of woody plants, employ paid staff, and have enhanced public education programs and a documented collections policy."

Below is a list of all arboreta who received plaques from the IDS between 1978-2025: