Drop-in

Harcourt Arboretum is home to over 130 acres of the world’s rare and endangered trees. In 1835, Archbishop Vernon Harcourt commissioned artist and landscape designer William Gilpin to create an eight-acre pinetum and Serpentine Ride in the parkland next to Nuneham House, where the Harcourt
family lived. In 1947, the University of Oxford purchased the entire estate and created an arboretum that
has grown over time to 130 acres. It was acquired by the Botanic Garden in 1963. It was designed as a
place of beauty, to preserve the collection of North American conifers, and to grow trees for which the
Oxford Botanic Garden was too small or the soil too alkaline. Our experts travel the globe to find rare
trees, collect their seeds and grow them in the Arboretum, ensuring the species survive outside their
threatened native habitats. Today, visitors can discover trees from around the world growing alongside
tranquil British woodland and open meadows. This includes some of the oldest redwoods in the UK.
More information is available at www.obga.ox.ac.uk/visit-arboretum

Partially accessible - Some paths may be difficult for wheelchair users, particularly if weather has been wet. There is an all-terrain wheelchair available to use (please call ahead to reserve).