Batsford Arboretum & Wild Gardens is situated in the north Cotswolds, just over a mile from Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire. Tucked away on a south facing escarpment of the famous Cotswold Hills it contains a treasure of rare and unusual plants and trees. Entry into the arboretum is allowed until one hour before closing time, so plan your visit accordingly.
At Batsford Arboretum is the national collection of Japanese Flowering Cherries along with a superb selection of 1600 unusual plants, shrubs & trees including magnolia, acers, prunus and bamboos spread across 60 acres. Visitors can enjoy the Japanese flowering cherries escape in spring and the flowering cherries in bloom, which provide a stunning visual display.
Hard landscaping includes rockeries, streams & waterfalls, a lake, statues and a hermits cave. The arboretum is open from 9.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Saturday and 10.00am to 5.00pm on Sundays, making it accessible throughout the week. Additionally, the arboretum in the Cotswolds is open from 9.30am to 5.00pm, inviting visitors to explore its beauty year-round.
Introduction to the Arboretum
In the heart of the Cotswolds, Batsford Arboretum is a haven for gardeners and plant enthusiasts. 60 acres of beautiful and rare trees, shrubs and bamboos to explore. Open 9:30am-5:00pm Monday-Saturday and 10:00am-5:00pm Sunday, last entry 4:00pm daily. A perfect escape into nature.
See the Japanese flowering cherries in bloom at specific times of the year and enjoy the shade of the trees in the summer. Batsford Arboretum is famous for its plant species, including magnolia and Japanese flowering cherries, and seasonal attractions like spring flowering bulbs and autumn colour.
The arboretum encourages you to get out and about and learn about the natural world with its displays of flowering bulbs and Japanese flowering cherries. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just looking for a day out, Batsford Arboretum has something for everyone. Breakfast or lunch at the Garden Terrace Café and unique gifts at the Arboretum Gift Shop.
Use their plant search or sign up to their newsletter for the latest news and updates. With beautiful gardens, food and unique trees, shrubs and bamboos, Batsford Arboretum is a must visit in the Cotswolds. The visitor centre is free to enter and has all the information and amenities you need.
Be amazed by the colour of the snowdrops, followed by spring flowering bulbs and the Japanese flowering cherries. Batsford Arboretum is a year round destination.
Lord Redesdale
It was during the 1860s that Lord Redesdale travelled intensively throughout Asia where he was influenced by the landscapes in China & Japan becoming fascinated by the plants that he discovered growing there.
Upon inheriting the Batsford estate, Lord Redesdale demolished the existing Georgian house & began to build a new home (not open to the public) along with many of the estate houses, eventually turning his attentions to the gardens. His plantings included a stunning collection of magnolia and our Japanese flowering cherries, which are now part of the arboretum’s seasonal display and a key attraction, showcasing the historical significance of his contributions.
Drastic changes for garden and plant lovers
Drastic changes began to take place around the turn of the century when Lord Redesdale destroyed much of the original design & began to created a “wild” garden of natural planting, inspired by his earlier travels.
He combined his ideas on conventional park lands with a garden landscape & some of the major trees still standing today at Batsford were his original plantings along with one of Britain’s best collections of bamboo. The bamboos spread across the arboretum, showcasing the expansive and diverse plant collection that makes Batsford unique.
Lord Redesdale, died in 1916 & the Batsford estate was passed to his son, David, father of the famous Mitford girls. Nancy Mitford based some of her novel “Love in a cold climate” on her time at Batsford.
1st Lord Dulverton
The estate was sold in 1919 to 1st Lord Dulverton. His wife, Victoria took a great interest in the gardens being responsible for some of the larger plantings including the Handkerchief Tree & Copper Beeches. Later members of the family inheriting the estate continued to develop the gardens into the renowned arboretum that is here today. The arboretum looks stunning right now with blooming magnolias and Japanese flowering cherries, showcasing a unique collection of trees and shrubs that offer different seasonal experiences throughout the year.
The Batsford Foundation: Arboretum in the Cotswolds
Batsford Arboretum continues to thrive & is administered by the Batsford Foundation, a charitable trust established by the 2nd Lord Dulverton who describes the Arboretum as “the nations favourite arboretum”. Batsford Arboretum is one of Gloucestershire’s top Cotswold attractions & one of the gardens that visitors to the Cotswolds must see. It features a centre where you’ll find various amenities including the café and garden centre.
Facilities include a plant centre, the Applestore Tearoom, and a café garden centre. The gift shop is completely free to enter, enhancing the visitor experience with accessible shopping and dining options.
Visitors with disabilities are welcome & can park in the car park where disabled parking bays are as close as possible to the arboretum entrance.
Wheelchair access is by level tarmac road which visitors can follow through the arboretum passing the house. There are other paths which are gravel but these rise up hill more steeply to the higher parts of the arboretum. Because of this there is no charge for wheelchair users. The shop is completely free to enter, making it accessible for all visitors.
To help visitors with disabilities a wheelchair is available although booking is advisable especially at busy periods. Disabled toilets are available.
Facilities and Amenities
Batsford Arboretum is dog friendly and has plenty of facilities to make it a great day out for the whole family. The Garden Centre at Batsford Arboretum is a plant lovers paradise with a wide range of plants and gardening supplies including rare trees and shrubs.
The Garden Terrace Café is the perfect place to sit and relax, serving breakfast, lunch and coffee. With stunning views of the arboretum it’s a great place to have a meal or coffee break. The Arboretum Gift Shop has a range of unique gifts and souvenirs including gardening related items so you can find a special memento of your visit.
You can get some retail therapy at the arboretum with their range of shops and amenities including the garden centre and gift shop. The facilities and amenities are designed to inspire you to get out and about in the natural world with stunning displays of plants and trees.
The garden centre and café are open daily and the visitor centre is free to enter with loads of information and amenities to help you plan your visit. Batsford Arboretum is a time saver and a one stop shop for all your needs with garden centre, gift shop and café.
Whether you’re looking for a day out or a gift Batsford Arboretum has something for everyone. Enjoy the gardens, food and drink and gifts all designed to make your day out relaxing and enjoyable.
Conservation and Community
Batsford Arboretum is passionate about conservation and community, with lots of initiatives and activities to get you involved with the natural world and your local community. Their unique collection of trees, shrubs and bamboos makes them a hub for conservation, with many rare and endangered species.
Working with local communities, Batsford Arboretum promotes conservation through education and events. The visitor centre itself is a sustainable building, built with FSC sourced timber and a low profile roof and ground source heat pump for underfloor heating.
Their conservation efforts are supported by the garden centre and gift shop, which sells eco-friendly products and gifts. Batsford Arboretum is a popular destination for school groups and educational visits, with activities and initiatives to promote learning and conservation.
Community events and activities at the arboretum are designed to get you loving the natural world and supporting your local community. These include workshops, talks and exhibitions that will engage and educate you. As a member of the Cotswold Conservation Board, Batsford Arboretum works with other local organisations to further conservation.
Their conservation initiatives are supported by local businesses and organisations. By visiting Batsford Arboretum you are supporting these vital conservation and community efforts, promoting the natural world and your local community.
Visitor Information
Please visit the Batsford Arboretum & Wild Gardens website for current opening times and admission charges. The arboretum is open from 10.00am 5.00pm on Sundays.
Note that the last entry to the arboretum is 4.00pm daily.
If you are planning a visit to the area, check out our guide for more things to do near Moreton in Marsh.