Arboretum Nové Zákupy

Arboretum Nové Zákupy is a tree collection near the small town of Zákupy, in the Česká Lípa district of the Liberec Region, along the banks of the Svitavka stream. Its story runs from a thriving educational collection of thousands of species, through decades of neglect, to a present-day revival led by the local municipality.

Who founded the arboretum, and when?

The site dates back to 1905, when a forestry school operating in the area laid out an extensive teaching ground next to its premises, planting it with trees and shrubs gathered from around the world. Over time the collection grew to more than 3,000 species and cultivars, making it one of the richer arboretums of its kind in the region. Its purpose was primarily educational: students of the forestry school used the grounds to study the diversity of woody plants, their growing requirements, and proper care.

What caused the arboretum's decline?

The collection's growth was interrupted by events beyond the caretakers' control. A severe frost in 1929 destroyed a large share of the plantings in both the park and the arboretum, killing off many specimens, particularly those less tolerant of extreme cold. A second, more decisive blow came with the approach of war: in the 1939–1940 school year the forestry school shut down, left without enough students, as young men were called up for military service. With no institution left to look after it, the grounds began to go wild. After 1940 the arboretum received no systematic care and spent the following decades slowly overgrowing, losing the clear layout of its paths and plantings.

How was the arboretum brought back?

Change did not come until after 2008, when the town of Zákupy decided to gradually restore the grounds to a usable state. The work was carried out under the supervision of the town's forest manager, Josef Jirotek. It involved removing diseased and damaged trees, clearing heavily overgrown undergrowth, reshaping and leveling the terrain, and adding new plantings to fill gaps left by the thinned-out collection. The first phase of the restoration wrapped up in September 2012, with a second phase of further work carried out in 2013–2014. The renewal added wooden boardwalks and footbridges over the damper stretches of ground, viewing terraces, and benches for resting along the way. Paths were laid out to be accessible to seniors and children from nearby facilities near the arboretum.

What can visitors see there today?

Today the arboretum is above all a quiet place for a walk along the Svitavka, combining what remains of the historic tree collection with the newer plantings introduced during the restoration. Visitors can follow the marked paths, cross the wooden boardwalks, and stop at the viewing terraces to take in the older trees and the calm surroundings. The park also serves as a small piece of regional history, reflecting both the rise of forestry education around the turn of the 20th century and the toll taken by wartime disruption and postwar neglect of green spaces.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Arboretum Nové Zákupy located? Along the Svitavka stream, near the town of Zákupy, in the Česká Lípa district of the Liberec Region.

When was the arboretum established? In 1905, founded by a forestry school operating in the area.

How many species did the historic collection include? More than 3,000 species and cultivars of trees and shrubs.

Why did the arboretum fall into decline? A severe frost in 1929 damaged the plantings, and the forestry school closed in the 1939–1940 school year, after which the site went without regular care.

When was it restored? The town of Zákupy carried out a restoration starting in 2008, with the first phase finished in September 2012 and a second phase in 2013–2014.