Friends of Oxford Botanic Garden & Arboretum
Enjoying entry to 9 botanic gardens across the country and exclusive events.
Friends' events and visits
Make a donation
Become a Patron
Friends of Botanic Gardens Forum
Become a Friend and you will support Britain's oldest botanic garden, founded in 1621; help conserve rare and threatened trees at Harcourt Arboretum, created in 1830 and spanning 130 acres of woodland walks, wildflower meadows and ponds; and support education, training and vital research into plants and the environment for future generations.
What the Friends receive:
- Free entry to the Garden and Arboretum
- A 10% discount in our shops
- Coffee mornings and tours led by members of staff
- An invitation to events such as May Morning, the Friends' summer party and behind-the-scenes visits to other gardens
- Free entry to a number of botanic gardens in the UK with whom we have a reciprocal arrangement
- A regular newsletter and e-bulletin
Which Gardens are included?
Royal Botanic Gardens: 2-for-1 entry to the Royal Botanic Gardens, including Kew Gardens in West London and Wakehurst Place at Ardingly in West Sussex.
Chelsea Physic Garden: Tucked away beside the Thames, Chelsea Physic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in London and houses around 5,000 different medicinal, herbal, edible and useful plants. Free entry with Friends' membership.
Royal Botanic Gardens of Scotland: Including the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Benmore Botanic Garden, Dawyck Botanic Garden and Logan Botanic Garden. Free entry with Friends' membership.
National Botanic Garden of Wales: The National Botanic Garden of Wales is set in the beautiful countryside of Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire. Free entry with Friends' membership.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens: The Birmingham Botanical Gardens contain glasshouses, beautiful gardens, a playground, tearoom and gift shop. Free entry with Friends' membership.
The University of Liverpool's Ness Botanic Gardens: The superb gardens at Ness in Liverpool span over 64 acres. Free entry with Friends' membership.
The University of Bristol Botanic Garden: A beautiful garden filled with a huge diversity of plants set against the backdrop of a striking Victorian house. Free entry with Friends' membership.
Who are we?
Patron: HM King Charles III
President: Lord Patten of Barnes
Vice Presidents: Lawrence Banks, Robin Herbert, Lady Lapthorne, Sir Ghillean Prance, Sir Crispin Tickell, the President of Magdalen College and the Dean of Christ Church
Directors and Trustees: Simon Hiscock, Marius Apetrei, and John Geddes
The Friends of Oxford Botanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum is a company limited by guarantee:
company no 05547805, registered office in the UK at Rose Lane, Oxford OX1 4AZ. Registered charity no 1111939.
Find us on the Charity Commission website.
Read the minutes from our 2023 Annual General Meeting and FOBGA's Articles of Association (2020).
Friends' Accounts year ending 2023.