
Overview
The European Maple Excellence Program will designate outstanding collections as “Maple Centers of Excellence” based on the following criteria:
- Botanical Quality: For arboreta, emphasis on scientific accuracy, taxonomic diversity, and conservation efforts.
- Aesthetic Appeal: For gardens, focus on the beauty and landscape design incorporating maples.
- Diversity: Representation of a wide range of Acer species, subspecies, and cultivars.
- Conservation: Efforts to preserve rare or endangered maple taxa.
- Education: Programs or resources to educate visitors about maples.

Eligibility and Categories
The program is open to both public and private collections belonging to members , with two main categories:
- Arboreta of Excellence: Recognizing scientifically managed collections with a focus on species including botanical accuracy and research.
- Gardens of Distinction: Honouring aesthetically designed landscapes showcasing the beauty and diversity of maples and their multiple cultivars.
Private gardens designated as Centers of Excellence will be required to offer access to Maple Society members.



Criteria and weights to be used by the Panel of Experts to select the Maples Centers of Excellence

Arboreta of Excellence
The program is open to both public and private collections
- Collection Diversity and Rarity (30%)
- Taxonomic diversity of Acer species and cultivars
- Presence of rare or endangered maple taxa
- Representation of different maple ecosystems
- Scientific Accuracy and Research (25%)
- Accuracy of taxonomic identification and labeling
- Ongoing research projects related to maples
- Publications or contributions to maple knowledge
- Conservation Efforts (20%)
- Programs for preserving rare or endangered maple species
- Sustainable management practices
- Seed banking or propagation initiatives
- Educational Programs (15%)
- Quality and frequency of educational events
- Availability of interpretive materials
- Collaboration with academic institutions
- Documentation and Record-Keeping (10%)
- Completeness and accuracy of collection records
- Use of modern database systems for collection management
- Sharing of data with other institutions or researchers

Gardens of Distinction:
- Aesthetic Design and Landscape Integration (30%)
- Overall beauty and design of the maple collection
- Integration of maples into the broader landscape
- Seasonal interest and display
- Collection Quality and Diversity (25%)
- Variety of maple species and cultivars
- Health and condition of specimens
- Unique or noteworthy specimens
- Visitor Experience and Accessibility (20%)
- Garden layout and ease of navigation
- Quality of visitor facilities and amenities
- Accessibility for visitors, including those with disabilities
- Educational Value (15%)
- Informative signage and plant labels
- Guided tours or self-guided materials
- Educational events or workshops for the public
- Sustainability Practices (10%)
- Water conservation methods
- Use of environmentally friendly maintenance practices
- Efforts to promote biodiversity within the garden
These criteria and weights are designed to reflect the different focuses of arboreta (scientific and conservation-oriented) and gardens (aesthetic and visitor-oriented) while still maintaining high standards for both categories in the Maple Centers of Excellence program



is a not-for-profit organisation