Although it creates the illusion of a flourishing natural woodland, the Woodland Garden was one of the first planted gardens in the Arboretum, created by students and staff in the 1920s.

It was deliberately designed to evoke the atmosphere of an untamed grove, and has been enhanced over decades by the addition of masses of spring bulbs and native wildflowers.

With its high canopy of leaves and sparse understory of smaller trees, the garden has an open, spacious feel. Ample light reaches the ground, allowing flowers to flourish.