The clocks went back last weekend, so being reminded of the imminent arrival of winter we decided to visit the local Batsford Arboretum to enjoy a wander through the 56 acre estate – followed by the ubiquitous hot beverage (and cake) in the coffee-shop!

Batsford Estate is situated between Broadway and Moreton-In-Marsh, and belonged through various inheritances, to the Redesdale aristocracy and Mitford family – including the notorious and scandalous six sisters of the 1930s and 1940s.  However, the development of the estate was established in the 1890s under the influence of the 1st Lord Redesdale (Algernon Freeman-Mitford) who had worked for the foreign office in Russia, Japan and China in the 1860s.  The oriental landscape became a passion for Lord Redesdale and his friendship with successive directors of Kew Royal Botanical Garden certainly helped his landscape designs, creating a wild garden of naturalistic planting derived from observations in China and Japan.

Shortly after the end of WW1 when the heavy expense of running such an estate forced the Mitford’s to sell, it was bought by Lord Dulverton, and it was this family who continued to invest time, effort and money into developing the gardens and arboretum that is seen today – with the introduction of collection of rare Birch, Maple, Oak, Ash, Lime, Magnolia, Mountain Ash, Pine, Fir and Spruce trees. 

The collection covers a wide range of plants from around the world but have an emphasis on the Far East, with over 2,850 labelled specimens including about 1,300 different trees, shrubs and bamboo.

Definitely worth a visit - and probably not just restricted to autumn!

Left:  It was interesting to see and read about the Wollemi Pines and the links between Batsford and Sydney's Botanic Garden as Paul and I visited the latter on a couple of occasions.

A bit of extra time and effort in the autumn not only means the garden looks a bit better in the dreary winter months, but it also means that you’ve got a head start next spring.  So, if you’re bored:

• Sweep up leaves and make leaf mould compost or mulch.
• Pull up annual plants (and compost)
• Trim hedges and flowering shrubs (and compost)
• Cut back perennials - crocosmia, geraniums, echinacea and echinops, need to be cut down to the ground
• Divide herbaceous perennials
• Prune climbing roses
• Mow the lawn for the final time; setting the blades higher than usual to leave the grass slightly longer over winter
• Clean and disinfectant tools and greenhouse
• Move tender plants into a greenhouse or conservatory, or onto a windowsill
• Repair fences, sheds, garden-furniture as applicable

This may be the last proper harvest of my homegrown produce as the temperatures are definitely more autumnal now.  It is therefore unlikely that the remaining tomatoes in both the greenhouse and outside in the veggie-patch will ripen, so I probably have half a hundred-weight in beautiful green tomatoes to pick and use, so let me know if you want any?*!

I have recipes for various chutneys, as well as delights such as Fried Green Tomatoes with Artichokes and White Anchovies, Green Goddess Hummus with Char-grilled Green Tomatoes, and Pan-Fried Gnocchi with Green Tomato Sugo...

Healthy and organic!