Gloucestershire is blooming with sensational spring colours, as the warmer weather breathes new life into flora and foliage across the county – and this season, Batsford Arboretum’s vast collection of rare and exotic trees really come into their own.
Throughout spring, visitors will find stunning displays of pink, white and purple at the 56-acre arboretum, near Moreton-in-Marsh.
Brimming with spring blossom, Batsford is home to the National Collection of Prunus (Sato-zakura Group) – a diverse collective of cultivated Japanese cherry trees that are grown for their ornamental qualities – with over 120 flowering cherries found in clusters around the arboretum.
With exquisite cherry trees to admire, nature lovers can enjoy a tranquil stroll and practice hanami – the traditional Japanese custom of enjoying the beauty of cherry blossoms, which literally translates to ‘flower viewing’.
The arboretum in the Cotswolds also has 73 species of magnolia, adding pastel hues and pretty pinks to the seasonal landscape; as well as carpets of daffodils and spring-flowering bulbs.
Batsford’s visitors can expect to see magnolias, early flowering cherries and plenty of daffodils from early to mid-March, while the rest of the Japanese cherries are predicted to flower from mid-March to early May 2023 – with the whole springtime spectacle generally spanning a couple of months.
Anyone inspired by the colourful blooms can pick up seeds, bulbs and herbaceous perennials to plant at home, with all kinds of plants and gardening supplies in stock at the Batsford Garden Centre. Plus, enjoy light refreshments and hot lunches served at the recently renovated Garden Terrace Café.
Batsford Arboretum is open daily from 9.30am to 5pm on Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 5pm on Sunday.
Tickets to the Cotswold attraction can be booked online in advance via batsarb.co.uk, costing £9.95 for adults and £3.50 for children aged four to 16 – with free admission for little ones under four.
