The Bobarts Group, founded in 2004, is the Patrons’ group of the Friends. It gives those who wish to, the opportunity to contribute extra financial support to the Garden and Arboretum on a regular basis. Bobarts members enjoy all the benefits of being part of the Friends, plus a special programme of exclusive small group visits to private gardens. They are also invited to an annual reception at which they meet personally the Director, the Senior Curator of the Garden and the Curator of Harcourt Arboretum.

Members join the Bobarts for a number of reasons: one describes it as the chance “to support the Garden and Arboretum and especially their education programmes and their conservation and commitment to plant diversity. The visits to private gardens in small groups, accompanied by people with similar interests in gardens and gardening, are particularly enjoyable. Such groups do not overwhelm even the smaller gardens and the owners are particularly welcoming and hospitable.” Many Bobarts have forged new friendships through their membership; others are simply happy to give extra financial support to the Garden and Arboretum.

A brief account of the events that Bobarts members have enjoyed this year will give readers a flavour of the outstanding gardens we have been able to visit. Every year we are invited to an Oxford University department or college to see treasures of botanical art and herbaria hidden away in many of the city’s ancient buildings. This year we visited the University of Oxford Plant Sciences Department to see the original paintings and herbaria presented in the book Planting Paradise, a recent Bodleian publication whose author, Dr Stephen Harris, Druce Professor of Oxford University Herbaria, showed us the collection. His willingness to share his knowledge with us was wonderful.

On a perfect spring day in May we visited The Old Rectory, Farnborough, an outstanding four acre garden with magnificent views, whose owner Mrs Caroline Todhunter showed us round. The deep parallel herbaceous borders were full of rare and interesting plants. The newly planted small arboretum with a number of rare Quercus trees and the Cornus kousa and the Davidia involucrata, both clothed in their spectacular bracts, were outstanding.

Lord Carrington welcomed us to Bledlow Manor with its beautiful walled gardens, the famous Lyde Water Garden with paved parterres and a wonderful collection of contemporary sculptures. He walked around with us and was full of amusing and interesting stories of his time as Foreign Secretary. We then went for a delicious lunch at Mill Barn, the nearby home of Sir Richard and Lady Lapthorne, whose private garden was so exciting, with its individual rooms. They shared their passion for their garden with us.

Kiftsgate Court is a magnificent four acre garden with spectacular views largely created by the grandmother of the present owner, Anne Chamber. The introductory talk to the garden, and then the walk around the twists and turns amongst the glorious roses, unusual plants and shrubs, were a delight. Later we visited Dean Farm, an ambitious and very successful garden surrounding a series of converted barns and including a courtyard garden, a sheltered walled garden with a distinctly Mediterranean theme, and woodland walks. We were told that the owner had to import 650 tonnes of topsoil to convert the very alkaline soil to the one that supports the present variety of plants. The coolness of this midsummer evening sent us inside for a drink in the owner’s warm kitchen and more stories about the creation of this very special garden.

Home Close is the private 2 acre garden of a Bobarts member designed with terraces, walls and hedges to divide the garden into ten distinct areas to reflect a Mediterranean interest with trees, shrubs and perennials, planted for all year effect. For once we could enjoy the wine and delicious canapés outside in the evening sun before we all drove home in a deluge, such has been the mixed weather this summer. Radcot House is another very special exuberant new 2½ acre garden with sixteen large colourful beds. Calm areas of lawn are bisected by a canal and enclosed by high beech hedges. The extensive use of grasses, unusual perennials and interesting sculptural surprises was a good talking point as we moved around the garden. We went on to Campden House with its 1½ mile drive, set in fine parkland in a hidden valley with lakes and ponds. The wide walled terrace in front of the house, which was built in the 17th century and enlarged in the 19th, leads to a mixed border of interesting plants. The displays in the many pots were one of the most original aspects of the garden. We were very privileged to have our tea in the panelled dining room.

Finally, the Bobarts Day this year was held at Harcourt Arboretum. The reception was followed by a tour with the Director Timothy Walker and Senior Curator Alison Foster, and even those of us who had visited many times learnt more about the trees and meadows than ever before.

Membership of the Bobarts costs £140 per annum for individuals and £225 for two people living at the same address. If you are interested in joining the group, please contact the Friends’ Administrator, Liz Woolley, on secretary@fobg.org, 01865 286690.