The Beauty of Blossom Season at Batsford Arboretum

Like many living with chronic illness, getting out in nature is an important part of my staying as well as possible. So, a couple of weeks back, we headed to Batsford Arboretum for a dog friendly day out. The arboretum is located within the Cotswolds National Landscape, near Moreton in Marsh. Whilst there is interest in every season, we’d seen online that the blossom was in full bloom and so, with a sunny weekend weather forecast, we planned a visit.

Unexpected Delights

We didn’t expect that the daffodils would still be in bloom as the ones dotted around our village had gone over a couple of weeks prior, so that was a nice surprise.

Blossom was truly the star of the show. There were so many different types ranging from white through to dark pinks and in many places, the delicate scent of cherry blossom filled the air.

There were plenty of magnolias too, with their perfectly formed flowers. Lots of visitors were taking close up photos of these flowers, and it was easy to see why.

Hidden Treasures

There are also several areas of wild flowers dotted around the site – I especially liked the snakeshead fritillaries, with their distinctive chequered pattern.

We came across this picture-perfect red Chinese bridge towards the end of our visit.

There’s a splendid cafe on site, where we had lunch. Plus, if you’re feeling inspired by all the beauty of the plants and trees, there’s an on-site garden centre too.

I was experiencing quite high pain levels that day, so we took the walk around slowly and there are plenty of benches around for visitors to take a break and enjoy the views. Whilst it was quite hard for me to be on my feet for longer than I usually would be, I left feeling uplifted by the beauty of Batsford and very grateful that we’d been able to visit.

Overall, Batsford Arboretum was a great place for a day out with the stunning trees and plants, peaceful atmosphere, and dog-friendly policy. If you’re planning a visit to the Cotswolds, particularly during blossom season, I’d highly recommend a visit.