Situated just the historic Cotswold market town of Moreton-in-Marsh is the Batsford Arboretum & Garden Centre. With over 2,850 labelled specimens including around 1,300 different trees, shrubs, and bamboo, the collections at Batsford cover a wide range of plants from all around the world – especially those from the Far East. Although this is just a fraction of the many fun and interesting facilities that Batsford has to offer. From Archery and Falconry to Children’s Trails, a play area and education centre – There’s so much to see, learn and do at the Batsford Arboretum & Garden Centre. Read below to find out more:

The Arboretum – The Main Event

There’s so much to explore in Batsford’s garden; from the different collections of Acers, Bamboo and Magnolia (just to name a few), you can learn a lot from the colourful inhabitants of this – acre garden. For instance, did you know that Batsford is home to one of the UK’s first comprehensive bamboo collections and also houses many species of Japanese maples which are well-known for their fiery red colour in autumn and beautiful pink hues and flowers in spring?

Breathtaking in every season, Batsford truly is a sight to see. Observe the blossoming of magnolias, flowering cherries, and shady glades of bluebells in Spring. See clouds of forget-me-knots, buttercups, foxgloves, and orchids in Summer. Watch as leaves change colour ranging from deep butter yellow through to orange-reds and crimsons as well as an abundance of berries in Autumn. And finally, see the Arboretum completely transformed into a Winter Wonderland in the Winter months. 

With such a magnificent sight to see, this arboretum isn’t just used for its beauty but also for research and conservation. Batsford takes part in the International Conifer Conservation Project run by the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. The arboretum has a collection of some of Chile’s most endangered conifers, which serves as a living gene bank in the case of their extinction in the wild.

Visiting with the Little Ones?

Batsford serves as an adventure playground for the little ones, where they can have lots of fun as well as learn about the natural environment around them.

Children’s Trails

This trail is a fun way for kids to explore the Arboretum, whilst keeping them interested and entertained. It’s the best of both worlds!

School Trips

At Batsford, they place a high value on education and encourage field trips from local school groups, offering a large Education Centre for schools to hire free of charge.

The Garden Shop

Are you passionate about gardening? Well, this may just be the place for you! Just inside the main entrance of the Visitor Centre, you’ll see Batsford’s spacious, well-ranged Garden Shop. Their garden Shop stocks a wide range of essential gardening essentials including everything from Seeds & bulbs, plant care, and compost to bird care, Children’s gardening kits, and Jams & chutneys.

The Garden Café

If you get a bit peckish on your trails, not to worry! The Arboretum has a delightful Garden Terrace Café, so you can admire the area’s natural beauty whilst tucking into a delicious meal. Enjoy a range of hot lunches as well as paninis, soups, and snacks throughout the day. You can choose from seating at their indoor (open 9.30am – 4.30pm) or outdoor café (10am – 4am).

What’s nearby?

Cotswold Falconry Centre

Right next to Batsford Arborterum is the Cotswold Falconry Centre, which is home to around 150 Birds of Prey. You can even see the free-flying demonstrations each day.

Cotswold Archery

For archery enthusiasts of all ages (from ages 8+), Cotswold Archery has a dedicated Batsford archery range and offers pre-booked archery activities.