May in the Arboretum

Visitors this May are in for a treat – as the extreme cold of the winter and spring has delayed flowering of our beautiful Japanese cherry collection and Magnolias.  It means, with some later flowering daffodils also in full bloom, spring is spectacular at Batsford this year.

Later the blowsy glory of the blossom will be replaced by the pungent smell of garlic wafting on the breeze and the sight of shady glades of bluebells.  Don’t miss the fabulous bright yellows of the Marsh Marigolds in the shallow waters of the Swamp – a perfect hiding place for frogs and newts.

From mid-May for about three weeks you will be able to marvel at our famous old Davidia.  Thousands of white handkerchief-like bracts, hang from the branches as if left out to dry in the breeze.  Known to many as the ‘Handkerchief Tree’ it is one of the biggest and oldest in the country and you can buy your own in the Plant Centre to take home with you.

Don’t forget to book for our Bat Walk on May 23^rd. Visit our events page for more information.

Current Opening details

We are open every day of the year except Christmas Day, daily from 10am to 4.40pm (Gates locked at 6pm)

Adults £7.00 (£6 in Dec 2012 and Jan 2013)
Concessions £6.00  (£5 in Dec 2012 and Jan 2013)
Children (4 to 15 inclusive) £3.00 (£2 in Dec 2012 and Jan 2013)
Family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) £17.00 (£14 in Dec 2012 and Jan 2013)

Children of 15 or under must be accompanied by an adult

Please note the Arboretum is open from 10am until dusk through the winter.

For Health and Safety reasons, during periods of high winds and other severe weather the arboretum may have to close. Please call 01386 701441 for more information before you travel.

Batsford Wins Gold Tourism Award

Staff at Batsford have been celebrating after being voted the Best Large Visitor Attraction in the Cotswolds by a prestigious panel of tourism experts.

The awards are organised by Cotswolds Tourism every year to celebrate quality, service and success in the local tourism industry.  Judging was based on visits, secret shopper reports and the views of a variety of experts and tourism enthusiasts who approached each category with an open mind to agree Gold, Silver and Bronze awards.

Runner up with the Silver award in 2012, Batsford went one step better this year to take Gold for 2013, beating off stiff competition from Cotswold Farm Park and Sudeley Castle in the Large Visitor Attraction category.

In a new development, the awards have been aligned with Visit England’s National Awards which means all Cotswold Gold winners go forward for ‘best in England’ consideration. Cotswold Tourism Manager Chris Dee says ‘our Cotswold tourism industry has the highest standards and we’re exceptionally proud of our winners and wish them luck nationally’.  ‘It’s been a tough year for tourism and these awards celebrate the energy and hard work of our area’s tourism industry, an industry that brings around £1 billion a year into the local economy, direct to local communities and businesses.

Batsford’s PR and Marketing Manager Susie Hunt said ‘We are thrilled to have taken top honours in this prestigious award.  The £2 million investment in the new visitor centre was a very brave decision to make at such a challenging time for tourism but has helped to weather-proof the business and vastly improve both accessibility and the visitor experience.  The news has given staff a real boost and we’re going into 2013 full of confidence and optimism about the year ahead.’

Batsford Foundation Trustee Tony Russell says ‘The Trustees of the Batsford Foundation are absolutely delighted to receive this award.  It is a wonderful acknowledgement of all the hard work and commitment that all members of the Batsford team have put into making it one of the finest arboreta and visitor attractions, not just in Gloucestershire, but in the UK’.

Help spread the word about Batsford

If you've enjoyed your visit to Batsford Arboretum, why not review us on Tripadvisor - so other people can benefit from your own experience?

Click here to get started.