Malcolm Baylis visits a treasure trove of rare trees and shrubs at a unique North Yorkshire arboretum

If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise ... well, nothing could be more true of a day out to Thorp Perrow Arboretum, home of hundreds of different trees and shrubs laid out over 85-acres in a quiet and unspoiled corner of the Yorkshire Dales, not too far from Bedale.

It is a living museum of rare trees, shrubs and wild flowers - and also home to nearly 50 different species of wild birds and animals.

And for the family it is a brilliant day out.

An hour or so away from York, the Arboretum is off the Bedale-Ripon road. Probably the most direct journey is to take the A1, turning off at the junction with the B6267, and heading towards Well, Snape and Thorp Perrow. The beauty of this route is that after the hell that can be the A1, the leafy lanes through Well and Snape are a living dream, a wonderful countryside with glimpses of old Dales homes clothed in roses and clematis.

There is free parking at the Arboretum, and it is open from dawn to dusk. You will have to pay to go in, a tenner for a family of two adults and two children, which some might feel is a "bit much for a day out in some old woods".

But Thorp Perrow Arboretum is not just old woods, although the area has a history going back to Norman times. No, Thorp Perrow is unique.

The Arboretum is set out within over 1,000 acres of parkland, owned and managed by city businessman Sir John Ropner, whose father, Leonard, 70-or-so-years ago was given 60-acres of the family's parkland to play about with. Fortunately, Leonard loved trees and from his passion grew today's Arboretum.

For the serious student it is a goldmine, for those seeking a place to wander and wonder it is simply fascinating, while for children it is a fantasy "island" just waiting to be explored. And the beauty of this place is that it is available all year round.

And, mercifully, it has few rules. The most important is keeping dogs on a lead. Another is keeping children and their dads firmly on the ground, because the temptation to climb some of the trees is pretty hard to resist. The latter is really important, bearing in mind that some of the trees are rare, endangered, and some of the largest of their type in the country. The Arboretum is also responsible for three National Collections of trees, ash, lime and walnut, so care is needed to ensure such gems are not damaged.

The grounds are criss-crossed by woodland walks and nature trails, most firm enough for wheelchairs and baby buggies, with seats placed at strategic points providing views across the large and shallow lake, the formal but private gardens of the great house, and over carpets of wild flowers and tree blossoms which cover much of the area, depending on the season.

There are picnic areas, a refreshment room and shop and a small garden centre. Unfortunately, the house and its formal gardens are not open.

But it is not just trees and shrubs from all around the world that have made their roots in North Yorkshire. Thorp Perrow is good for bird watching and fungi foraging, too. For the bird watcher, the surrounding parkland together with the Arboretum provides habitat for green and spotted woodpecker, tree creeper, nuthatch and loads of robins and finches, while the lake is home to little grebe, moorhen, coot, tufted duck, mallard and the occasional greylag goose. More than 70 species of fungi have been identified. And if you are into photography or sketching and painting, then it is a dream.

Incidentally, throughout the year there are guided walks, including bird-watching, bat-watching, flower spotting and fungus forays. Less seriously, there are family days, including a special Halloween spooky trail, especially for the children.

Meanwhile, work continues within the Arboretum, with new plantings for the Millennium, and fresh designs to show shrubs and trees at their best, so its worth more than just a one-day visit.

Fact file

Getting there: Four miles from Leeming Bar on the A1, off the Bedale-Ripon Road, just south of Bedale.

Wheelchair and pushchair accessible. Electric wheelchair available on request, but book in advance. Telephone the administrator on 01677 425323.

Dogs welcome but must be kept on a lead.

Opening times: From dawn to dusk, all year round.

Admissions: Adults £3.50, child £2.00 OAP/disabled £2.50. Family (two plus two) £10 (two plus four) £14. Season tickets single £16.00, double £22.00, family £30. Parking free.

Facilities: Tea room, information centre, plant centre, toilets and picnic area. Horticultural catalogue of the trees and shrubs.

PICTURE: An attractive walk through Thorp Perrow Arboretum near the Water Steps