Autumn at Harcourt Arboretum: Japanese Collections and Beyond

Date
Friday 9 October 2026
Time
10.00am-12.30pm (arrivals from 9.50am)
*Meeting point: Just outside Ticket Office and Shop (the dark green shepherd’s hut) marked as (1) on the Arboretum map

Venue
Harcourt Arboretum
Oxford Lodge
Peacock Gate Nuneham Courtenay
Oxford
OX44 9PX
[map]

By Bus:
From Oxford city centre you can take the X40 bus towards Reading. Board the stop at St Aldates (Stop H4) and enjoy the 27 minute journey to Nuneham Courtenay. Get off the bus at the Baldons Lane stop and take the short walk to the Arboretum entrance. 

By car:
On-site parking is available for those visiting by car. For major seasonal events such as the spring fair or autumn fair, visitors are asked to book a space in advance. We also ask visitors not to park on the nearby Baldons Lane (this is a restricted access road).

Booking Details
Booking essential – £5.00 per person

Priority booking for Members of The Japan Society until noon Friday 25 September 

Please note that spaces are limited and so early booking is recommended.

The Japan Society is delighted to invite members and friends to a special guided visit to Harcourt Arboretum, part of the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum and home to one of its most important living collections of trees.

Led by Ben Jones, Arboretum Curator and Head of Arboriculture, the visit will explore the Arboretum in autumn, with a particular focus on its growing collection of Japanese trees and shrubs. Ben will introduce the history and development of the Japanese collections, including plants grown from seed collected with colleagues in Japan, and discuss current collaborations between Oxford and Japanese partners in botanical research and the conservation of rare and threatened species.

Combining a guided walk through the Arboretum with discussion, the visit will explore how living collections can bring together horticulture, science, education and practical conservation, while offering the opportunity to experience the Arboretum at one of the most distinctive times of year.

Ben Jones specialises in plant conservation, with a particular focus on trees and the flora of Japan and Ethiopia. A member of the IUCN Global Tree Specialist Group and Seed Conservation Specialist Group, he has undertaken fieldwork around the world focusing on threatened tree species and the role living collections can play in their conservation.

Set across 130 acres of historic landscape, Harcourt Arboretum combines internationally important plant collections with native woodland and meadow, supporting research, conservation, teaching and public engagement.

Images: Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum

If you have any questions, please call The Japan Society office on 020 3075 1996 or email us at events@japansociety.org.uk

In partnership with:

Booking Info

• Attendees Information
  This event is suitable for attendees aged 14 and over.
  • Attendees aged 14–15 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian throughout the event. A separate ticket must be booked for the accompanying parent/guardian.
  • Attendees aged 16-17 may attend independently but must provide parental/guardian emergency contact details as part of the booking process.
  • For further information, please see our Safeguarding Policy.

• Providing Details in the Booking Form
  Please enter the full name and email address for each attendee in the booking form. If you're booking as a member, please provide the email address associated with your membership so we can match your information in our system. 
  
  
• Booking Confirmation
  You should receive an automated email from The Japan Society confirming your booking. If you don't receive any confirmation emails, please check your spam folder or email events@japansociety.org.uk.
  
  
• Cancellation Policy
  A full refund will only be given where notice of cancellation is received no later than noon Friday 2 October 2026. After this date, we will attempt to resell your ticket(s). If we are unable to resell your ticket(s), unfortunately, we will not be able to offer a refund.