Best of British Gardens in Oxfordshire

The Extraordinary Gardens of Oxford and Oxfordshire

You can always talk to an English person about the weather and gardening - or so they say. Judging by the wealth of gardens in Oxford and Oxfordshire, local residents wouldn't be short of botanical conversation - such is the variety of design, size, atmosphere and intention of gardens here.

Perhaps most famous are Oxford's Botanic Garden, the first in Britain; Blenheim Palace's water terraces and Capability Brown-designed landscape; and Rousham's classical garden by William Kent, complete with original gazebos and Cold Bath. Not forgetting Buscot Park's shady Peto garden and Waddesdon Manor's spectacular 3-dimensional formal carpet bedding - a rarely-seen Victorian skill recreated with thousands of plantlets - and much hard work.

But, away from grandiose parkland dotted with specimen trees, a landscape in which Oxfordshire is rich indeed, are smaller gardens, some open to the public all year, others only briefly under the National Gardens Scheme, allowing but a glimpse of their beauty. Oxford's college gardens, sheltered by high walls, are at their best in spring, with carpets of bulbs and later frothy window boxes round quadrangles with velvet lawns mown in precise stripes.

There are arboreta - such as the Oxford University Arboretum, famed for its rhododendrons and bluebell wood, and the University Parks, as well as orchards - small at Sulgrave Manor but operated commercially at Waterperry, producing apple and pear juices - and offering courses and young fruit trees for those inspired to grow their own.