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.
13 Dec 2023
As part of this project, 3 demonstration plots were created between 2021 and 2022 at the Universities of Concepción, La Frontera and Austral de Chile, with 10 cherry rootstock selections, plus 2 commercial controls: Gisela 12 and Colt.
23 Aug 2023
ProChile released its "Export Leadership Chile 2022" report, . This report delves into the performance exports and where it has maintained its leadership. In 2022, Chile exported goods worth $43.47 billion, a notable 14.9% increase compared to the previous year.
28 Apr 2026
Bud dormancy in fruit trees is increasingly affected by climate change. Reduced winter chill disrupts flowering and yield, driving research into agrochemicals and more sustainable strategies to maintain productivity, crop quality, and consistent plant development.
28 Apr 2026
The Chilean cherry sector shifts strategy: less rapid growth, more focus on quality, logistics and reputation. The Chinese market is more demanding, while the industry targets higher standards and diversification to sustain value.
