Friends of Oxford Botanic Garden & Arboretum

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

Join via direct debit

As a Friend you can enjoy:

▫️Free entry to the Garden and Arboretum *(excluding some events)

▫️A 10% discount in our shops

▫️Monthly coffee mornings with updates from Botanic Garden and Arboretum staff

▫️Free entry to 9 UK botanic gardens with whom we have a reciprocal arrangement

▫️A regular newsletter and e-bulletin

▫️An invitation to events and behind-the-scenes visits to other gardens

Browse upcoming Friends events

The Friends' Newsletter

The Friends' Newsletter is full of information about what's happening at the Garden and Arboretum, articles by botanical experts and details of Friends’ events. It is sent to Friends three times a year, in early March, July and November.

Browse former newsletters

Research and Conservation

Friends members help support the UK's oldest Botanic Garden, while helping to conserve rare plants and trees at Harcourt Arboretum.

Learn more

Make a donation

We are aiming to raise £750,000 to improve facilities. All contributions will be most welcome, and we hope that you will feel able to help us reach this ambitious target.

Support us

Direct Debit - Single

Join or renew by Direct Debit for Single or Single Plus One Memberships From £45

Direct Debit - Joint

Join or renew by Direct Debit for Joint Memberships From £65

Friends Gift Membership

Click here to purchase Friends Gift Membership

Become a Patron

There are two Patrons’ Groups for those who wish to support the Friends at a higher level. Patrons of the Garden and Arboretum enjoy a more exclusive programme of events and private trips.

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.