Autumn at Harcourt Arboretum

The Arboretum glows with colour through autumn.

The Acer Glade is awash with vivid reds and rich golds, in Lime Wood the leaves create a rich yellow canopy and flutter gently to the ground, while in Bluebell Wood the bracken is a rich copper.

 Along Holly Walk you’ll find bright berries amongst the greenery.

The Arboretum is home to a number of dawn redwoods (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) which during the autumn months glow with a vivid brick-red colour, resembling a flaming torch.

Known only in fossil records until the 1940s, the dawn redwood is often described as a ‘living fossil’.

It is the only living member of the genus Metasequoia, although the fossil record shows us that it was distributed through North America and Eurasia up to 100 million years ago.

Today, the dawn redwood is restricted to the border of two Chinese provinces and Chongqing in Central China, but it is a popular addition to many parks and gardens in Europe and America.

Despite this, it is still internationally recognised as endangered.

Keep an eye out for their stately oaks which turn a golden brown, and other eye-catching colour from trees such as Taxodium distichum (swamp cypress) and Larix x eurolepis (hybrid larch). Palmer’s Leys is also worth visiting, the native planting shines a merry yellow on sunny days.

Dogs

On a lead at all times, not allowed in the house, shop, servery or first floor of tearoom or the play area off the Lime Avenue.

You can now take your dog into the ground-floor seating area of the Brewhouse tea-room.

They suggest you have min two people in your group so one can sit with the dog while the other orders.

They welcome all visitors, including those with disabilities, their carers, family members and friends to enjoy the Garden.

The Botanic Garden is fully wheelchair accessible.

They have a wheelchair available for public use: please note this must be booked in advance at their Ticket Office (telephone 01865 610 300).