Frequently asked questions
Are dogs allowed at Batsford?
Dogs are very welcome throughout Batsford in the arboretum, garden centre and café, but must be kept 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 dog leads are not permitted). Please clean up after your dog and place in any of the litter bins around the site.
Do we allow childrens scooters in the arboretum?
Unfortunately not. We do not allow children’s scooters in the arboretum, the visitor centre or the garden centre
Are bicycles allowed in the arboretum?
No, there is no cycling allowed in the aboretum (this applies to both children and adults), including any form of bike, trike or balance bike.
Do we allow picnicking in the arboretum?
Unfortunately not. However, there are picnic tables situated at the rear of the visitor centre for you to use and you can picnic on any of the grassy areas around the lower car parks – please vacate by 5.15pm as the gate on the main road will lock at 5.30pm, thank you.
Do I get free arboretum entry with my RHS membership?
Free entry is available to RHS main members (Member 1, marked with an asterisk on the membership card) on most days of the year – your membership card must be shown at the admission desk on the day of visiting to gain free entry to the arboretum. Please note that free entry isn’t available during October and November – standard admission rates apply.
Do I need to book in advance?
Pre-booking isn’t essential, however we recommend it for arboretum visits during our busy periods at Easter and October-November to help reduce queueing time. Our one-way entry system will be in place during the weekends and some weekdays during these periods; please follow the signage upon arrival.
Batsford annual members (and children accompanying members) DO NOT need to pre-book, however, if you’re bringing paying guests, we would advise that they pre-book tickets.
How long does it take to walk around the arboretum?
The arboretum is 60 acres in total. It generally takes 1.5 – 2 hours to walk around all of it. As the arboretum is situated on a hillside, some of the paths are quite steep, however there are lots of benches located all over the arboretum, so there are plenty of opportunities to sit, rest and enjoy the views!
Is photography and video allowed at Batsford?
We encourage visitors’ photos and videos on site and love seeing these on social media. If you’d like to share your photos with us, please tag us on Instagram or Facebook using @batsfordarboretum.
Those wishing to use the arboretum for commercial purposes, such as professional photography or photoshoots, are welcome to do so by prior arrangement with our Admissions Manager – please email admin@batsfordfoundation.co.uk or call 01386 701441 (option 1) to book.
