Terrington Arts

A community arts charity

Richard Spruce Trail

Richard Spruce was one of the greatest of the Victorian explorers and botanists. He is best known for his journeys in South America, where he travelled along the River Amazon and its tributaries, and for his efforts in pursuing seeds and plants of the quinine producing cinchona tree. Apart from the 15 years he spent abroad, most of his life was spent in the villages of Ganthorpe, Welburn and Coneysthorpe on the Castle Howard estate. He is buried in the churchyard at Terrington where his grave can still be seen near the eastern boundary.

A Richard Spruce Trail was developed, particularly by Gerard Naughton. A driving route, it guides visitors around the villages and hamlets particularly associated with the botanist’s life in the Howardian Hills. A Richard Spruce Day was held on 12 June 2004 to launch the Trail.