LISLE, Illinois (July 14, 2014) –The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum are pleased to announce that the Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve of Medford Leas located in Medford and Lumberton, New Jersey has been awarded Level I Accreditation. By achieving particular standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens, the Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve of Medford Leas is now recognized as an accredited arboretum in The Morton Register of Arboreta.
The Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve of Medford Leas is a unique blend of accessible public gardens, collections, and preserved natural areas set amidst Medford Leas, a not-for-profit community, guided by Quaker principles, for those age 55+. Spanning more than 200 acres, the Arboretum offers visitors a diverse horticultural array of designed gardens, landscaped grounds, meadows, natural woodlands and wetlands, and extensive plant collections, including plants native to southern New Jersey.
“The ArbNet accreditation provides a benchmark to assess our strengths as well as to identify areas for future development of the Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve of Medford Leas,” said Jane K. Weston, Director of Development and Community Relations at Medford Leas. “Residents and staff of Medford Leas have long been proud of our Arboretum, and the ArbNet accreditation serves as recognition of the work we have done over the years. We are proud to have attained this designation and to be in the company of so many well-regarded arboreta.”
About the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program
The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program is sponsored and coordinated by The Morton Arboretum in cooperation with American Public Gardens Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation International. This international initiative offers four levels of accreditation, recognizing arboreta of various degrees of development, capacity and professionalism. Accreditation is based on self-assessment and documentation of an arboretum’s level of achievement of accreditation standards. Standards include planning, governance, labeling of species, staff or volunteer support, public access and programming and tree science, planting and conservation. More information is available at www.arbnet.org.
