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.
30 Jun 2023
Ripa di Sotto is a monocultural company specialising in the cultivation of cherries, located in Vignola. The company cultivates 17 hectares, with an average production of around 130-150 tons per year, which is above the average in the area.
01 Nov 2024
The outlook is favourable for Turkish cherry exporters, which in 2024 experienced one of the best seasons in recent years, thanks to an already improved performance the previous year. In 2023, exports amounted to USD 83 million.
24 Mar 2026
Study on organic sour cherry cultivation in Poland comparing conventional systems, with yield reductions up to 60%, effects of diseases and climate, and identification of the most suitable cultivars for sustainable and efficient production systems.
24 Mar 2026
Cherry farming in Mendoza offers strong opportunities thanks to favorable climate conditions and advanced management. Nutrition, soil health, and agronomic practices are key to achieving high-quality fruit for competitive international export markets.
