Batsford Arboretum

Summary
The largest and most extensive private collection of trees and shrubs in Britain. The arboretum shares space in Batsford Park with the Cotswold Falconry Centre.

View our Batsford Arboretum Photo Gallery

The Arboretum - Background
Batsford Arboretum was the brainchild of Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford, who inheirited the Batsford estate in 1886. Freeman-Mitford, later 1st Lord Redesdale, travelled widely throughout the Far East, and was heavily influenced by Chinese and Japanese culture, philosophy, and horticulture. Upon taking possession of Batsford, he created a unique mix of parkland and garden, with groupings of plants in imitation of Chinese style. Redesdale was an expert in bamboos, and many of the bamboo plants you can see today were his plantings.

Redesdale also began to plant unusual varieties of plants and trees, beside a 600 metre long watercourse. Included in his vision were a hermit's cave, rockery, and rest house.

Japanese style bridge, Batsford

The foundation established by Lord Redesdale was greatly expanded by Frederick Hamilton Wills, 2nd Lord Dulverston, who inheirited Batsford in 1956. It is to Lord Dulverston that Batsford owes a great deal of its appeal today; he added considerably to the collection of trees, creating at Batford an arboretum of the highest international standards.

The Collections
Though the focus of Batsford is truly international, it is in the area of Oriental shrubs and trees that the collection shines. There are over 3,000 labelled plants, trees, and shrubs at Batsford. Notable varities include oak, maple, mountain ash, magnolias, Japanese Cherries, bamboos, and pine.

Batsford holds the national collection of Japenese Village Cherries.

I've put together a collection of my favourite photos of Batsford in a Batsford Arboretum Photo Gallery, which should give you a good idea of the variety of species you can enjoy on a visit to the arboretum.

Visiting
Fee charged. For current details see the official website (below). A combined ticket allowing entry to the Arboretum and Falconry Centre is available.