Dogs & Picnics

Dogs are welcome!

We welcome dogs at Batsford and appreciate that they are an important part of your day out. Dogs are allowed throughout the arboretum, garden centre and café, however we have a few doggy rules to ensure you and your four-legged friend enjoy your day at Batsford:

Use a short fixed lead

Please keep your dog on a short fixed lead at all times, including in the arboretum. We have a limited number of short leads available to exchange at the admissions desk if needed (extendable leads are not permitted).

Keep control

Please keep your dog under control and do not allow them to bark persistently within the main building or on the café terrace as this may cause disruption to other visitors.

Clean up!

Please clean up after your dog and use any of the litter bins around the site (please do not allow your dog to urinate in or around the main building or in the plant area). Free doggy bags are available at the arboretum entrance if you don’t have one with you.

Hydration

Dog water is available at several points around the visitor building and cafe. The streams and ponds around the arboretum are fed by a natural spring.

Warning!

Please be aware that on hot sunny days ground surfaces around the visitor building and on the cafe terrace may be too hot for dogs’ paws.

Picnics

Unfortunately, we don’t allow picnics in the Arboretum. However, there are picnic tables situated next to the coach park, and you’re welcome to picnic on any of the grassy areas around the lower car parks. Please note that glass bottles are not permitted in the Arboretum. Please vacate the car park by 5.15pm, as the gate on the main road will lock at 5.30pm. Thank you.