📷 Photo by Robin Drayton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Around 15,000 trees from across the world grow here, making this one of the most significant arboretum collections anywhere.
You can easily spend a full day exploring the well-marked paths that wind through different sections, each with its own distinct character. The Holford Collection presents a more formal, deliberately designed landscape, while Silk Wood has a wilder feel, blending native British species with exotic trees from distant regions.
The site really comes alive in autumn when the trees turn brilliant shades of red, gold, and orange—though be prepared for crowds during this peak season. Spring is equally rewarding, with fresh growth and blossom throughout. The Treetop Walkway is genuinely worth your time; it lifts you into the canopy and completely changes your perspective on the trees around you.
Robert Holford started this as a personal plant-collecting project in the mid-1800s. What began as a private passion has grown into something far more substantial—today it functions as a serious research and conservation centre for trees, so you're walking through grounds with genuine scientific importance and real historical significance.
The location works well for exploring the southern Cotswolds, sitting a short drive from both Tetbury and Malmesbury, making it an excellent day trip while you're visiting the region.
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Photos
G. Hogg · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons