About the Forest and Arboretum

Ilanot Arboretum was planted as an arboretum in the 1950’s by the Forestry Research personnel of the Ministry of Agriculture - Israel’s tree climatization garden. The Ministry’s foresters did a wonderful job. They collected over 700 species and varieties of trees from around the world and planted them in the garden in 25 plots according to the geographic regions from which they had been collected. They named the place appropriately - Ilanot, which means Trees.

The arboretum was a hive of activity. The researchers at Ilanot checked the suitability of the tree species in the garden and their potential to serve as forest trees. Ilanot was the center of forestry work in Israel. Important research was conducted here through collecting seeds and pests, and other forestry aspects were studied. The extensive variety of trees in the garden attracted students from the Faculty of Agriculture in Rehovot, high-school students, landscape architects and nature lovers from Israel and abroad.

In 1986, the Forestry Research Department was closed down and the work at Ilanot was discontinued. The place was abandoned. Some of the trees died, not being suitable for the climate and soil in the garden. Others withered away for lack of attention. The area became overgrown with weeds and the magnificent garden receded from memory.
The arboretum rejuvenated

In 2013, KKL-JNF took upon itself the task of saving and restoring whatever could be salvaged from the arboretum. The rehabilitation work included careful mapping of the garden and its trees, attending to the existing trees, planting new trees and laying a computerized irrigation system. At the foot of each tree species a sign was installed, introducing the tree’s ID card. A QR code has been included on each sign, which can be scanned with a smartphone to access more interesting information.

KKL-JNF paved 2.5 km of paths in the garden. Benches have been placed beside the paths, providing an opportunity to relax while contemplating the trees.

Adjoining the parking lot, which is suitable for bus parking, KKL-JNF has installed accessible picnic tables and an audio info system has been provided, which gives a brief audio explanation about the arboretum.

Now children and youngsters also find plenty of interest in a walk through the arboretum. They are introduced to the various trees through a fun interactive game, which involves the arboretum’s trees in a mystery solver game, which can be unraveled by scanning the QR codes on smartphones.

In July 2014 the then Minister of Agriculture announced that Ilanot Forest would be declared Israel’s eleventh accredited botanical garden, since it met the prestigious criteria according to the Botanical Gardens Law of 2004.