Oxford College Gardens - Trinity and Balliol Colleges
Oxford College Gardens - Trinity and Balliol Colleges
Oxford, OX1 3BH
- 28th June 2027
- 10:00 - 15:30
- £130
Explore Trinity and Balliol College’s historic gardens, imaginative planting and wildlife habitats with private tours by the head gardeners.
Trinity College
Like many colleges, Trinity has historic listed gardens on a site dating back to the 13th century.
Several years of restoration following building work have introduced a new 120-metre border by garden designer Chris Beardshaw, alongside areas created by Head Gardener Kate Burtonwood.
The park-like front quadrangle features mature specimen trees, including Catalpa and Cedrus, now complemented by understorey planting. Formal courtyards contain seasonal pot displays, while new planting extends the flowering season and supports biodiversity within the traditional setting.
The tour also includes the private walled President’s and Fellows’ Gardens.
Ongoing assessments of pollinators and habitats will guide future biodiversity improvements across Trinity’s gardens.
A private buffet lunch in Trinity College Hall is included.
Balliol College
An oasis of calm in central Oxford, Balliol has been a community of scholars since 1263. Beyond its 19th-century Broad Street façade, the Front Quad reveals the Chapel, Old Senior Common Room and Library.
The College’s oldest, 15th-century buildings are framed by venerable wisteria and colourful borders of perennials and exotic annuals, raised from seed by the Garden team.
Through Chapel Passage lies the Fellows’ Garden, centred on Dervorguilla’s ‘tomb’, a decorative remnant of the old chapel.
A yew hedge leads to the secluded Master’s Garden, where a slate water feature creates a tranquil retreat. Beyond is Garden Quad, the hub of College life, overlooked by the magnificent 19th-century Hall and Buttery.
Mulberry trees throughout the grounds were propagated from one probably planted in 1609. Today, the Garden team cultivates these spaces for the wellbeing of the College community, while providing year-round flowers and valuable habitat for pollinators, birds and bats across the changing seasons.
R. Douglas Brown, Head Gardener, Balliol College
R. Douglas Brown became Head Gardener at Balliol College in 2024, following horticultural training in Scotland and roles at Kew and Christ Church. Balliol’s gardens span approximately 4.5 acres across central Oxford, combining historic architecture with varied planting, mature trees and seasonal displays that support pollinators.
Highlights include the formal Front Quad, Butterfield’s colourful Chapel, medieval college buildings and the tree-filled Garden Quad, home to a fruiting loquat and a centuries-old mulberry. Careful management protects these trees while preserving the canopy for future generations.
In the Fellows’ Garden, work is underway to tackle bindweed before replanting in 2027, alongside “Devorguilla’s Tomb”, commemorating Balliol’s influential founder.
The secluded Master’s Garden, developed with support from Dame Helen Ghosh, features seating and a slate water feature. Its peaceful character makes it a popular setting for wellness events and offers visitors a welcome retreat from the college’s busier garden spaces throughout the year.