Date/Time
Date(s) - 24/02/2026
10:25 am - 5:25 pm
Location
Coach pick outside Leicester Botanic Gardens
Departing by coach from Glebe Road, LE2 2LD at 10.25am
“Lord and Lady Heseltine have created a garden of major importance at Thenford, one of the most impressive, varied and interesting to have been made over the last forty years anywhere in the world”
Charles Quest-Ritson, Country Life, 2019
Michael and Anne Heseltine have been restoring and developing the arboretum for almost fifty years with advice from Sir Harold Hillier, Roy Lancaster and others. It features a collection of more than three thousand different trees and shrubs. They hold the National Collection of snowdrops and grow 1,000 different varieties. “Galanthophiles come from across the world to see them”. We shall also be able to see water gardens, an alpine trough garden, an impressive sculpture garden, a spectacular rill and more. There are medieval fishponds and a lake.
More information on Thenford here
The grounds are extensive, and stout footwear should be worn.
10.25 Departure from Glebe Road, Oadby
12.00 Arrival at the New Inn, Middleton Cheney, for a sandwich lunch.
We will need to preorder lunch but have not been given the sandwich options yet. These will be sent out to those going on the trip as soon as we have them.
13.15 Departure for Thenford for a free-flow visit. Maps will be issued. Tea, coffee and cakes are available to buy at the Visitor Centre.
16.00 Departure from Thenford Arboretum
17.30 Arrival at Glebe Road
Cost: Friends £48.00 per person Guests £50.00 (Includes sandwich lunch and entrance to the arboretum.)
Please book, online or by post, by Thursday December 4th, as we need to reserve places with Thenford and numbers will be limited.
If it’s necessary to make contact on the day of a visit:
Fliss 07788644887 or Deb 07721855285
To book and pay online:
Copy and paste this form into an email, complete and send to Fliss at flisshector@gmail.com
Thenford Arboretum with sandwich lunch Tuesday, February 24th 2026
Name……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Address……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Telephone……………………………………. (Mobile preferred) Email……………………………………………………………….
Please reserve places for …. Friends @ £48.00 ..… Guests @ £50.00
Total £…………. (Paid by bank transfer)
Special Dietary Requirements …………………………………………………………………
I do/do not require email confirmation of my booking
(Sandwich options will be sent as soon as available)
Pay by bank transfer to Leicestershire and Rutland Gardens Trust 30-18-69 00033098 Reference: TA followed by your surname
Booking and Payment by post :
Print and complete the booking form and pay by bank transfer or cheque.