Spring Fair at Harcourt Arboretum

Car park is now fully booked

 

Join us in a celebration of spring with a wander among the bluebells and a host of woodland crafts at the Harcourt Arboretum Spring Fair on Saturday 27 April. 

Enjoy local food and drink and explore 130 acres of woodland featuring some of the world’s rare and endangered trees. There will be hands-on activities for all the family, including straw weaving, wood turning, spoon carving and the always-popular petting zoo, all included with your ticket; a promenade performance of Fen Dance by the Café Reason Dance Theatre will entertain us in the afternoon.

Book a tour with our team of volunteer guides and learn more about the origins and work of the Arboretum, or learn how to identify different species of tree. 

The Friends of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum will return with their famous cake stall and tombola. Visit our specially selected local traders or stop by the Arboretum shop for a bottle of Physic Gin, organic olive oil or choose from our sustainably-sourced gifts such as picnic blankets and toys for budding botanists.

 

What's On

Tours

11:30 Tour with Ben Jones, Arboretum Curator

12:00 and 14:15 Volunteer-led tours

Performances

Throughout the day: Hammer dulcimer and hurdy gurdy - Damian Clarke

11:00 and 14:00 - Tree climbing demonstration and aerial rescue

14:30 Fen Dance: A promenade performance at the pond

Food and Drink

  • Horsebox Coffee Co
  • Friends' Cake Stall
  • Sole Luna Pizza
  • Supreme Gourmet Sausages and Burgers
  • Crafty Belle Sweet and Savoury Crepes
  • Hitchcox Cider
  • Church Hanbrewery

Hands-on Activities and Crafts
Drop in during the times shown below
*Numbers for each activity are limited and subject to availability

10:00 - 13:00 - OBGA Primary Education - family-friendly crafts*

10:30 - 12:00 & 13:30 - 15:00 - Straw Weaving with the Ministry of Straw*

10:00 - 11:30 & 12:30 - 14:00 - Spoon carving with Mike Amphlett*

11:30 - 13:00 & 14:00 - 15:30 - Wood Craft with Sylva Wood School

Through the day: Farms 2 Ewe Petting zoo
BBOWT Wildlife Trust

Shopping

  • Harcourt Arboretum Shop
  • Racalia Olive Oil tasting
  • Sally-Anne Stewart - printmaker
  • A Blackbird Sang - nature-inspired art and design
  • Country Bunches
  • Friends of OBGA Tombola

 

 

 

Key Information

Getting here
Car parking spaces are limited, are charged at £10 per car and must be pre-booked - they cannot be purchased on the day. Parking for Blue Badge Holders is free of charge, but must also be booked in advance.

The Arboretum has partnered with Oxford Bus Company to provide a free Spring Fair shuttle bus from Redbridge Park & Ride*. First bus 09:40, last bus returning from Harcourt Arboretum 16:20. Look out for our bus stop at Redbridge.

The X40 River Rapids bus runs between Reading and Oxford and stops outside Harcourt Arboretum.

*Redbridge car parking charges apply

Tickets
Your Fair ticket includes entry to our entire 130-acre site, including our bluebell woods, holly walk, meadows and acer glade. Please note that our Woodland Barn will be closed to a pre-booked course. 
Last entry is at 15:00.

  • Family £24 (2 adults + 2 children)
  • Adults £9 
  • Concession £7 (Under-16s and 65+, Friends)
  • Children under 3 go free.
  • Car Park £10 

Please note only assistance dogs are permitted.