The University of Guelph’s Arboretum has become Canada’s highest-ranked accredited arboretum.

The 400-acre natural space on campus recently received Level 3 accreditation under the ArbNet Accreditation Program for Arboreta, a collaboration of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International and the American Public Gardens Association based at the Morton Arboretum in Chicago.

The program evaluates arboreta worldwide on the quality of botanical collections, curatorial activities, education programming, research activities and conservation initiatives. The highest possible ranking is Level 4.

Canada’s other accredited facility is Fryfogel Arboretum in Shakespeare, Ont., with a Level 1 accreditation.

Arboretum director Shelley Hunt, a professor in the School of Environmental Sciences, says the accreditation raises the Arboretum’s profile internationally and will spark collaboration and knowledge-sharing with other institutions.

“It also celebrates our 45 years of achievements in supporting teaching, research and outreach at U of G,” she said.

Established in 1970, U of G’s Arboretum comprises tree and shrub collections with more than 1,850 kinds of woody plants as well as gardens, walking trails, natural woodlands, wetlands and meadows.