Harcourt Arboretum

Harcourt Arboretum is an arboretum owned and run by the University of Oxford. It is a satellite of the university's botanic garden in the city of Oxford, England. The arboretum itself is located six miles (10 km) south of Oxford on the A4074 road, near the village of Nuneham Courtenay in Oxfordshire,[1] and comprises some 150 acres (0.61 km2).[2] Professor Simon Hiscock is the Horti Praefectus (Director) of the botanic garden and arboretum.[3]

For the arboretum at Château d'Harcourtin Normandy, France, see Arboretum d'Harcourt.
Harcourt Arboretum
Trees at the arboretum
Locatio in Oxfordshire
TypeArboretum
Location6 miles (10 km) south of Oxford on the A4074
Coordinates51°40′56″N 1°11′55″W
Area150 acres (0.61 km2)
Operated byUniversity of Oxford
StatusOpen throughout the year except December 22 to January 3

The arboretum forms an integral part of the tree and plant collection of the University of Oxford Botanic Garden. It occupies part of what were the grounds of Nuneham House, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the house itself. It was designed to form an impressive entrance to the landscaped grounds of the house.

William Sawrey Gilpin (1762–1843), the artist and later landscape designer, laid out the pinetum, which forms the core of the arboretum. The trees are now mature, with giant redwoods and monkey-puzzle trees.

Meadow area with oak trees in the background.

The grounds include a 10-acre (40,000 m2) typical English woodland and a 37-acre (150,000 m2) summer flowering meadow. In late spring, the azaleas and rhododendrons are especially impressive. There are carpets of bluebells in the woods too. In the autumn, the leaf colours are brilliant, including Japanese maples. Peacocks roam the grounds, as they have since the establishment of the arboretum. In recent years, paths have been improved for accessibility.

The grounds are open to the public at a charge.

References
  1. "Harcourt Arboretum Introduction". University of Oxford Botanic Garden. Archived from the original on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
  2. "Support for big changes at the Harcourt Arboretum". University of Oxford News and events website. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
  3. "Simon Hiscock". obga.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved on 2 September 2018.

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