Batsford Arboretum, an English Gem[1]
by Judi Barton
Feb 13th 2025
En-route to a couple of snowdrop gardens in the south-west we broke our journey at Batsford Arboretum in Gloucestershire. We arrived via Moreton in Marsh, a picturesque Cotswold village, unfortunately blighted by traffic. However a pretty good lunch in the Arboretum café readied us for a chilly walk outside.There were daffodils in flower (none out at home that I had seen) and swathes of snowdrops, both of which always look great naturalised in grass.
Brief History [2]
The Arboretum is located on the side of a limestone ridge, and the guidebook says the name comes from an 8th century charter calling it ’Baecci’s slope’. Baecci was a local Anglo Saxon. A substantial house, with classical façade and walled gardens is shown on a 1712 engraving, so the Arboretum has a 300-year history as a managed landscape.
The Arboretum was started by Algernon Bertram Freeman Mitford, who inherited the property. The Mitford sisters were his granddaughters, and 5 of the 6 were born here. Money ran out. The property was sold in 1918 to a part owner of the Imperial Tobacco Co. Money no object, presumably. In 1956 the next generation, Anthony Wills created ‘a new arboretum around the bones of the old’. In 1983 the Arboretum was donated out of the Batsford Estate to become a charitable trust, the Batsford Foundation.
Walking the Paths
Out of the café building you walk along a walled border, full of spring colour and scent – hellebores, eranthis, snowdrops, daphnes and other shrubs. No time to dawdle though, husband is on a mission to stride.
Next is the Rockery Bridge, at the lower end of a waterway that travels down from the highest path at the top of the Arboretum. It is a built landscape, built to appear totally natural and provide scenie picnic vistas for the previous owners and their guests.
There is also a Japanese style area to admire as you walk up the ridge.
Of course, many of the trees had no leaves so it was possible to see the winter vistas. This lack of leaf also emphasised the magnificence of the very large pines and sequoiadendrons, as well as the sculptures that are dotted about.
Batsford Arboretum has a collection of handkerchief trees, many champion trees, acers, magnolias and other rarities. Having also visited in midsummer, I hope to visit again and see other seasonal versions of this charming grand ‘garden’.
[2] The historical information is taken from the guidebook, ‘Batsford Arboretum Souvenir Garden Guide A Garden for all Seaons’, text by Tony Russell.
Images courtesy of Judi Barton©