Batsford Arboretum
Moreton-in-Marsh
Wildlife & Gardens Experience
Batsford Arboretum lies in beautiful countryside just a mile from Moreton-in-Marsh and is a great place to spend a few hours in the fresh air. The arboretum contains an impressive selection of plants from all around the world but has a specific focus on the Far East. It holds the National Collection of Japanese Flowering Cherries, is home to the UK’s first comprehensive bamboo collection, as well as holding many other accolades.
It’s probably best known for its fabulous autumn colours but is a wonderful place to explore all year round. During spring you can enjoy the swathes of snowdrops. In summer the wildflower fields bloom beside the streams. Autumn brings the iconic vibrant leaf colour while winter creates a magical wonderland. During the autumn months, they even have a colour monitor on their website. Use this guide so you know when the trees are at their most impressive.
Bring the children along to jump in the leaves and follow the organized children’s trail. Then let them run off steam in the children’s play area. Batsford Arboretum is also dog-friendly, but please keep them on a short lead. After a stroll through the woodland, enjoy refreshments in the Garden Terrace Café. It’s open for breakfast and lunch as well as offering a delicious array of cakes and snacks throughout the day. Just inside the main visitor centre, there is an extensive garden centre stocking a wide range of essential gardening essentials. You’ll find everything from seeds and bulbs, tools, and pots to plant care and more. There is even a range of children’s gardening kits to inspire the younger generation. In the plant centre, you can find shrubs and topiary, fruit and ornamental trees, Japanese maples, and roses.
Chances are if you spot something you love in the arboretum you will find something similar to plant in your own garden here.
To note: The arboretum is situated on a hillside and may prove a challenge to less mobile visitors. Some of the arboretum is accessible by manual wheelchairs but electrically powered ones and mobility scooters will make the paths easier to negotiate. Visitors can hire one of the all-terrain vehicles called Trampers. Dogs on a short lead are welcome.
