The tree was planted as part of the celebrations for the University's 75th anniversary, during a ceremony attended by a representative of the Japanese Embassy in the United Kingdom, former Foreign Ministry diplomat, and two-time Olympian Mara Yamauchi.
Keele hosts one of the largest collections of flowering cherry trees in the UK and Europe, with around 230 varieties, including some rare even in Japan. It has previously been granted the status of a National Plant Collection by Plant Heritage, the world's leading plant research and conservation organization.
Kayo Iwakami, Second Secretary at the Japanese Embassy in the UK, stated: “It is a great pleasure to participate in this commemorative ceremony, celebrating both the 75th anniversary of Keele University and the planting of the 300th cherry tree.
“I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the experts who have diligently protected and cared for these trees. I also hope that everyone who visits this place will enjoy the beauty of the trees and that the spirit of friendship they symbolize continues to strengthen in the years to come.”
Image 1: Cherry blossom garden in Japan. Source: GreenMe.
The arrival of cherry blossoms in spring is a major event in Japan, marked by numerous festivals and daily coverage in national news. Keele has been planted with flowering cherry trees since the 1940s when the first ornamental gardens were established. Since then, many flowering cherry trees have been added across the 600-acre campus, and spring at Keele is now synonymous with cherry blossoms.
The latest addition to the collection, the Prunus nipponica, also known as the Japanese alpine cherry, was planted in the University's Memorial Garden. As part of the event, Mara Yamauchi, a former elite marathon runner who competed in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and placed second in the 2009 London Marathon, delivered a public lecture on her life and career for the latest installment of the lecture series in memory of Professor Fumiko Yonezawa.
Read the full artcile: Keele University
Images: Keele University; GreenMe.
26 Aug 2026
In Chile, biostimulants based on Macrocystis pyrifera, alone or combined with Pseudomonas koreensis, improve the ‘Colt’ cherry rootstock response to drought and water stress by supporting photosynthetic efficiency, stomatal control, root growth and plant resilience.
15 Nov 2024
A study conducted in Turkey focused on the effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) applied in different quantities from the soil on bud nutrient concentration and fruit formation of cultivar 0900 Ziraat grafted on rootstock Gisela 5.
13 Nov 2026
Rain and hail in Chile have damaged crops, while a truckers’ strike in San Antonio threatens shipments. Cherry output could reach about 115 million boxes, below the 140 million estimate. Weather and logistics are clouding the 2026-2027 season and its export outlook.
13 Nov 2026
Cherry leaf roll virus affects sweet, sour and black cherry trees. It is regulated in Canada, where symptoms may appear about five years after infection. The article outlines how it spreads and measures to prevent its introduction and contain the virus in orchards.
