The Arboretum is a 330 acre living laboratory on the University of Guelph campus, and its history has been very important to Guelph’s university, city, and people.

In December 1970, the University of Guelph approved the master plan for their new arboretum, with the first plantings – a small collection of maple trees – taking place in May 1971. The Arboretum has been valuable to the University of Guelph as a space to learn about, research, and protect the natural environment.

There are more than 40 plant collections of both native and introduced species in the Arboretum, and a gene bank is managed to preserve genetic diversity and provide seeds for restoration.

The Arboretum is a space for everyone, with an extensive trail network that hosts fitness groups, nature workshops, and education programs. To see a full list of current events, visit The Arboretum Website.

Besides being the site of the Arboretum, this land has long been lived on and cared for by the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Attawandaron peoples. In the 1792 Between the Lakes Purchase Treaty No. 3, the British Crown assumed ownership of over 3 000 000 acres from the Mississaugas of the Credit, including the land that would later become the Arboretum.