The Friends' 400th Anniversary Appeal

Access for all at the Arboretum 

In commemoration, in 2021, of the 400th anniversary of the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and the 30th anniversary of the Friends, and the 60th anniversary of Harcourt Arboretum joining to form the Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum in 2023, there has been a major drive to improve the facilities at both the Garden's sites.  

The Friends have undertaken to raise the funds to improve the path network: both restoring the existing paths and upgrading others to improve access to areas of the site hitherto inaccessible to many people, in particular those visitors with wheelchairs and buggies.

Anyone who has visited the Arboretum recently will be aware of the poor state of the paths and of the car park and so will appreciate the urgent need for investment to be made. This is vital for the Arboretum’s aim to encourage people to engage with our natural heritage and benefit from the wellbeing that contact with nature brings. An additional bonus will be that new planting areas will be created to help renew the Arboretum’s collections and prepare it to be a wonderful site for this century and beyond. 

The paths (see the map below) will include a new circuit round some of the best parts of the Arboretum, including the Acer glade and the bluebells, and will also improve access to the woodland barn and the composting lavatories.

The Friends are aiming to raise £750,000. All contributions will be most welcome, and we hope that you will feel able to help us reach this ambitious target. 

All donors will be recognised (unless they choose not to be) and there will be naming opportunities for the largest donations.

You can donate online below or download our leaflet for alternative donation methods, including making a donation to name a section of path, a planting area or a circuit. 

 
paths