OXFORD BOTANIC GARDEN & ARBORETUM SHORT COURSES Be inspired at Britain s oldest Botanic Garden 2017
CONTENTS AT A GLANCE CALENDAR HISTORY & HERITAGE VOYAGES & SAFARIS ART, CRAFT & DESIGN HORTICULTURE BOOKING FORM Oxford Botanic Garden is the UK s oldest botanic garden, founded in 1621. Building on four centuries of history, our mission is to educate people about the importance of plants to help conserve them around the world, and to support teaching and research at the University and beyond. Harcourt Arboretum, just outside Oxford City Centre, has been part of the University of Oxford since 1963. The 130 acres contain the best collection of trees in Oxfordshire with some of the oldest redwoods in the UK. GENERAL OPENING TIMES November - February Tuesday-Sunday 9.00am-4.00pm Mondays 12.00pm 4.00pm March - April Tuesday-Sunday 9.00am-5.00pm Mondays 12.00pm 5.00pm May - August Daily 9.00am-6.00pm Mondays (May) 12.00pm 6.00pm September - October Tuesday-Sunday 9.00am-5.00pm Mondays 12.00pm 5.00pm BOOKING Online: The easiest way to book. Secure 24h online booking: www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk By post: see Booking Form on the reverse of this leaflet DISABLED VISITORS The Botanic Garden (including its glasshouses) is fully wheelchair accessible. There is also a wheelchair available to borrow. Please call ahead to the ticket office (01865 610300) to reserve the wheelchair. SOCIAL Discover more inspirational news and images on our social media channels. @OBGHA
WELCOME Chris Thorogood, Head of Science & Public Engagement Welcome to 2017 and what promises to be an exciting and inspiring year at the Botanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum. We are delighted to offer a vibrant programme of walks, tours and workshops this year covering history and heritage, tours, art and design workshops, and practical horticultural courses. From modern day plant hunting and orchid safaris to learning a rare 15th century printing technique, there really is something for everyone, so come along and be inspired! THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP! The Botanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum depend on their many supporters and donors in everything they do. Friends and volunteers support enables us to inspire and educate a new generation of visitors. At a glance calendar 2017 March Thurs 23 rd Spring bulbs in watercolours: 115 April Tues 18 th Successful Staking: 30 April Thurs 20 th Paint your own birthday card: 115 April Tues 25 th Successful Staking: 30 May Sat 13 th Monkey orchid safari: 20 May Tues 16 th How to paint carnivorous plants: 115 May Tues 23 rd Creative pot displays: 30 May Thurs 25 th Behind the scenes at the Arboretum: 15 May Tues 30 th Painting orchids: 30 June Sat 3rd A history of the Garden and herbaria: 95 June Tues 6 th Painting tropical glasshouse plants: 115 June Sat 10 th Military orchid safari: 20 June Tues 13 th Carnivorous plants for beginners: 20 June Thurs 22 nd Present-day plant hunting: 15 July Thurs 20 th Mediterranean wild flowers: 15 July Thurs 27 th Wildlife at the Arboretum: 15 July Sat 29 th Plant hunters & exploration: 20 August Thurs 3 rd An uplifting historical voyage: 15 September Thurs 14 th Nature printing: a rare art: 175 (for 2 days) September Fri 15 th Nature printing: a rare art (cost as above)
HISTORY & HERITAGE A HISTORY OF THE GARDEN & HERBARIA Join this course, brand new to Oxford, in which we will delve into the history of the oldest Botanic Garden in Britain and its associated herbaria. We will spend the morning on a tour of one of Britain's finest herbarium collections that have been made across the globe over more than 400 years. Learn about their history with the Druce Curator of the Oxford University Herbaria and author of 'Oxford Botanic Garden & Arboretum: A Brief History', Dr Stephen Harris, who will share his passion for botanical collections, introduce you to some remarkable specimens and explain some of the ways in which the Herbaria contribute to science today. We will then explore the living collections in the afternoon at the Garden and learn how their history has shaped the Garden today Oxford Botanic Garden, Sat 3 rd June 10am-4pm. 95 PLANT HUNTERS & EXPLORATION Find out where the plants growing in our gardens originally came from with the Druce Curator of the Oxford University Herbaria, and author Dr Stephen Harris. Stephen will take you on a voyage of discovery across the four corners of the earth when the garden is in all its summer splendour. Oxford Botanic Garden, Sat 29 th July 3pm-4pm. 20 AN UPLIFTING HISTORICAL VOYAGE Join local historian, guide, speaker and author Mark Davies who will describe some of the remarkable characters who have influenced the Garden's rich history in a variety of ways. This one-hour walk will concentrate on some of the more unusual and tangential uses to which the Garden has been put in its 400 year history. Hear stories about the Garden s first superintendent, Jacob Bobart, known as the German Prince of Plants, and his colourful descendants; learn about some of Britain s earliest hot-air balloon launches made from the Garden by Oxford s very own first English aeronaut, the pastry cook James Sadler; and discover the Garden s associations with Lewis Carroll and other notable writers. Followed by wine and a book signing with Mark. Oxford Botanic Garden, Thurs 3 rd Aug 6pm-7.30pm. 15 Be inspired at Britain s oldest botanic garden
VOYAGES & SAFARIS MONKEY ORCHID SAFARI Join botanists Dr Chris Thorogood and Professor Simon Hiscock to catch a glimpse of one of the UK's very rarest orchids in the heart of the Chilterns, Hartslock Nature Reserve. If we re lucky, we ll find Monkey orchids, known to grow at this site for centuries, on hillsides overlooking the Thames. Hartslock Nature Reserve, Sat 13 th May 12pm-1.30pm. 20 MILITARY ORCHID SAFARI Join botanists Dr Chris Thorogood and Dr Stephen Harris for a stroll through one of the UK s richest orchid grasslands. We ll see Military orchids one of the UK s rarest species, as well as Fly orchids and other chalk grassland rarities. Homefield Wood, Sat 10 th June 12pm-1.30pm. 20 MEDITERRANEAN WILD FLOWERS Join Mediterranean plant expert Dr Chris Thorogood for a stroll among our Mediterranean borders. Take in the heady scent of aromatic herbs as we take a deeper dive into the ecology of one of the richest floristic regions on the earth. Followed by wine and a book signing of Chris s field guide. Oxford Botanic Garden, Thurs 20 th July 7pm-8.30pm. 15 BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE ARBORETUM Find out about the ins and outs of how an arboretum operates, how we do planting, coppicing and woodland management and plenty more, with the Curator, Ben Jones. Join us for a stroll around beautiful grounds as the trees are bursting into life in late May, followed by evening drinks at the Arboretum. Harcourt Arboretum, Thurs 25 th May 6pm-7.30pm. 15 PRESENT-DAY PLANT HUNTING Join our resident plant hunters for a trail through the Arboretum to retrace the footsteps of a North American plant hunting expedition with the plant hunters themselves! Followed by drinks at the Arboretum. Harcourt Arboretum, Thurs 22 nd June 6pm-7.30pm. 15 WILDLIFE TOUR OF THE ARBORETUM Join Ben Jones, Curator of the Arboretum to explore the wildlife in the Arboretum at its peak in the height of summer, including insects, pond life and wildflowers. Discover rare species in beautiful surroundings just a stone s throw from the city of Oxford. Followed by drinks beneath the treetops (weather permitting!). Harcourt Arboretum, Thurs 27 th July 6pm-7.30pm. 15 Be inspired at Britain s oldest botanic garden
Pinus nigra, black pine painted by Rosemary Wise ART, CRAFT & DESIGN BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION WITH ROSEMARY This year we are delighted to announce that our resident, worldrenowned botanical artist Rosemary Wise will be leading a series of exciting new plant illustration courses at the Garden. All classes held at Oxford Botanic Garden, 10am-4pm. 115 Spring bulbs in watercolours Learn the art of painting beautiful spring bulb flowers with a leading botanical illustrator. Thurs 23 rd March Paint your own birthday card This is a class completely new to the Garden. Come and paint a birthday or gift card from a range of classical and unusual subjects, here at the Garden. Thurs 20 th April How to paint carnivorous plants! New to the Garden, come along and learn how to illustrate carnivorous plants. A unique opportunity to paint something unusual! Tues 16 th May Painting orchids Orchids have a beauty all of their own. In this one-off class, Rosemary will teach you the skills to illustrate these intricate blooms. Tues 30 th May Painting tropical glasshouse plants The first greenhouse was built at the Garden more than 300 years ago. With a collection of over 1200 species, there are more than enough to choose from to learn how to paint tropical plants. Tues 6 th June NATURE PRINTING: A RARE ART Nature printing is a wonderful way of representing plants, developed by physicians in the 15th century as an aid to their study of medicinal and useful plants. Join renowned designer and printmaker Pia Östlund for a twoday workshop at Oxford Botanic Garden to explore this captivating technique. Day One begins with a brief talk on the history of nature printing, followed by a visit to the Herbaria and Sherardian Library to see some rare nature prints. In the afternoon you will have a demonstration and printing session to learn how to make your own impressions using fresh plants and oil-based inks on paper. On Day Two you will have the chance to further develop your technique and ideas and make your own nature printed project, whether a series of patterns, a set of cards or creating a record of your own garden to take home. Oxford Botanic Garden, Thurs 14 th - Fri 15 th Sept. 175
HORTICULTURE SUCCESSFUL STAKING Join the horticultural staff as they stake the herbaceous plants in the garden using natural materials harvested from the Arboretum. This is a practical course in which you will construct staking under the guidance of our experts. You will also have the option to collect a bundle of staking materials from the Arboretum on the day. Oxford Botanic Garden, Tues 18 th April and Tues 25 th April 10am-1pm. 30 CREATIVE POT DISPLAYS Join us to learn how we plan and plant up our beautiful pot displays at the Botanic Garden. The session will include an illustrated talk followed by practical demonstrations. Oxford Botanic Garden, Tues 23 rd May 10am-1pm. 30 CARNIVOROUS PLANTS FOR BEGINNERS Carnivorous plants are fascinating and unusual plants to grow, and they're not difficult once you know their likes and dislikes. This course will give you the knowledge and confidence to grow carnivores successfully at home. Beginning with an introduction to the wonderful world of carnivores, you will then receive advice on the best kinds to grow, as well as the top tips to keep them looking at their best. Oxford Botanic Garden, Tues 13 th June 10.30am-12pm. 20 Be inspired at Britain s oldest botanic garden
Booking form Pre-booking is essential. The easiest way to book is online via our website: www.botanicgarden.ox.ac.uk. Alternatively please complete this form and send to: Public Education Programme, University of Oxford Botanic Garden, Rose Lane, Oxford OX1 4AZ Name of course No. places Total course fee(s) Overall total I enclose a cheque made payable to Oxford Botanic Garden. Name Address Postcode I would like to receive my confirmation by email or post My email address is Please do not send cash by post. Guided walks and tours will take place outdoors regardless of the weather so please wear suitable clothes and footwear. Please note that minimum numbers of attendees are required to run all courses.