Arboreta to visit

All-terrain vehicles take less mobile visitors to the remoter areas of the 55-acre Batsford Arboretum.  Planting, with an emphasis on Japanese and Chinese trees, began in the early 20th century.  Visitors in late winter can enjoy snowdrops, aconites and hellebores, and fragrant witch hazel. Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos GL56 9AB www.batsarb.co.uk

Snowdrops and wild cyclamen cover the wintry ground at the 156-acre Bodenham Arboretum, which has woodlands and two acres of pools and lakes. Three thousand tree species include collections of acers, North American oaks and alders. Wolverley, Worcs DY11 5TB www.bodenhamarboretum.co.uk

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Harcourt Arboretum was originally laid out in 1835, using conifers newly introduced from America’s west coast.  The arboretum, part of the University of Oxford since 1963, has native woodlands, wildflower meadows, and rhododendron and bluebell woods. Peacock Gate, Oxford OX44, 9PX www.obga.ox.ac.uk/visit-arboretum

The National Arboretum, Westonbirt, first planted in the 1850s, now has five national collections, and 14,092 labelled trees (2,500 different types), spread between ancient woodland, the 1850s Old Arboretum, and a Grade I registered species-rich grassland. Tetbury, Glos GL8 8QS www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt

At Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, there are 13 National Plant Collections, 11,000 different types of plants, and both formal and informal landscapes. In the three-acre Winter Garden, 650 different plants are grown for seasonal effect. Jermyns Lane, Romsey, Hants SO51 0QA www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/hilliergardens

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Thorp Perrow is an 85-acre arboretum, with 67 Champion trees and five National Collections, including walnuts and limes. It is laid out in sections connected by paths, grass walks, glades and avenues. Bedale, North Yorks DL8 2PS www.thorpperrow.com

Maintained by the National Trust for the last 60 years, Winkworth Arboretum has groves of azalea, rhododendron and holly, as well as wetlands.  Its collection include more than 1,000 trees and shrubs. Godalming, Surrey GU8 4AD www.nationaltrust.org.uk/winkworth-arboretum

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