It was a bright start to the day when we set out for our coach trip to Batsford Arboretum near Moreton in Marsh. A lovely ride through the picturesque towns, villages and countryside of the Cotswolds brought us to our destination where we were welcomed by a member of staff. We then explored the arboretum which is home to a unique collection of some of the world’s most beautiful and rare trees, shrubs and bamboos. In 1886 the estate was inherited by Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford, who during the 1860s worked for the foreign office in Russia, Japan and China and fell in love with the oriental landscape – a passion which directly influenced his design for the arboretum. We wandered through the trees in awe of their stunning Autumn colours. Absolutely beautiful reds, golds and buttercup yellows of Acers, birch, beech, cherries and a host of other species, were made even more impressive with the fabulous warm and sunny weather and a background of blue sky. The wetland areas of streams and lakes added to the different varieties of plants and the oriental influences were obvious with the Japanese rest house, and statues of Buddha and the Woo Dog. A walk to the viewpoint was rewarded with spectacular views over the Cotswolds. The gift shop, garden centre and newly-opened café gave plenty of chances for retail therapy and rest and recuperation. A relaxed, trouble-free journey homeward, with everyone feeling the benefit of “forest bathing”, completed a truly wonderful day.
