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Bluebell Arboretum & Nursery - Woodland Gardens
One of the finest collections of unusual trees and shrubs in Derbyshire, our beautiful woodland garden surrounds our nursery and planting was started in 1992. We are a Royal Horticultural Society partner garden.
There are over one hundred different Magnolia and rare cherry trees planted in the gardens for their amazing spring flower display.
Superb autumn colour in September, October and November, a collection of flowering dogwoods flowering in June, giant redwoods, oaks, rare birch trees for winter bark colour and much more.
Originally a field, the gardens now cover an area of nine acres. While most of the large trees are still young with the majority at slightly under 30 years of age, many of the shrubs and smaller trees already show their full beauty of form and habit.
The arboretum has become a beautiful woodland walk with rare plant treasures on display to entice the real enthusiast!
There are many educational signs on display giving detailed information about the various unusual plants in the gardens.
Most of the plants shown in the gardens are available for sale from our adjoining plant nursery as young specimens and there are expert staff on hand to give information and advice about any plants which catch your eye.
Address:
Bluebell Arboretum and Nursery
Annwell Lane
Smisby
Ashby de la Zouch
South Derbyshire
LE65 2TA
Admission Charges
We are a Royal Horticultural Society Partner Garden, RHS members are admitted to the gardens free of charge (on presentation of a valid membership card. Without a card normal charges apply).
Adults - £6.00 each
Concessions - £5.00 each (over 60's, students & disabled)
Children & teenagers under 18 - FREE
12 Month Pass (visit as many times as you fancy in a year) - £18.00
Our Gardens are part of the Gardner's World 2 for one scheme. Please bring your card with you when you visit if applicable.
Access to our adjoining plant nursery is free of charge.
- Large car park on site with space for a coach.
- Toilets (inc disabled accessible) available on site.
- We do not have a cafe but picnics may be taken into the gardens with you (rubbish must be taken away with you please!)
- Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
- No ball games are allowed
- The garden has grass paths & walking boots or wellies will be necessary during or after periods of very wet weather! The grass paths are wheelchair accessible in dry weather but can be difficult when wet or frozen. If you wish to check the current conditions before visiting please call our office on (01530) 413700.
- Please be aware that despite our name, we are not a bluebell wood! We are called Bluebell Arboretum and Nursery as when the nursery started in 1979, we were in a different location right next to a pub called the Bluebell in the local village of Blackfordby. As we shared a car park with the pub it seemed (all those years ago!) sensible to use a similar name so that visitors could find us easily. We do have a huge collection of unusual trees and shrubs on display in the gardens but alas, few bluebells so far. Please do not visit us to see Bluebells alone, you will be disappointed! The best local place to see them is probably the nearby National Trust property - Calke Abbey.
