I

n a nutshell, Westonbirt is one of the UK’s largest and most spectacular tree collections.

There are over 16,000 trees here, covering a whopping 3,000 different species – all of them scattered across 600 acres of beautifully landscaped South Cotswolds countryside. Imagine what it’s like when that lot decides to blossom.

The arboretum was started by wealthy land-owner Robert Holford in 1839, a time when Victorian plant-hunters were bringing back exotic species from the far corners of the British Empire. It’s now in the safe hands of the people from the Forestry Commission, who took over in 1956 and have meticulously mapped, catalogued, labelled and grown the entire collection.

Whatever time of year you come, there’s always something new to see, with self-guided trails, leafy nooks and crannies – and a café selling great local ice cream. Not only that, though; there are also photography, arts and crafts, and carpentry workshops, play areas, art installations, orienteering courses – and regular outdoor concerts throughout the summer.