Bolderwood Arboretum Ornamental Drive and Bolderwood Arboretum

Bolderwood Arboretum

The Bolderwood Arboretum Ornamental Drive leads from the A35 (the Lyndhurst to Christchurch road), past the Knightwood Oak and through the glorious ancient woodland of Mark Ash Wood, to Bolderwood Arboretum.

Way-marked trails, varying in distance from 0.75 kilometres to 4.75 kilometres, are provided to take visitors around the Bolderwood Arboretum, which was originally part of the extensive grounds of Bolderwood Lodge, a master keeper’s residence from at least 1732 until demolition in 1833.

Beside one of the trails - the fittingly named Radnor Trail - can be seen the Radnor Stone, a memorial to the Earl of Radnor, Chairman of the Forestry Commission from 1952 until 1963 and Official Verderer of the New Forest from 1964 until 1966.

Along the way, a variety of introduced ornamental coniferous trees planted in 1860 will be encountered although, unfortunately, many were lost in the great storms of 1987 and 1991.

Look out, in particular, for Douglas fir, deodar cedar, Lawson’s cyprus, western red cedar, giant redwood and black pine.

Adjacent to the Bolderwood Arboretum is the Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary, whilst alongside the Bolderwood car park is a wide expanse of grassland that is ideal for picnics. A Forestry Commission information centre is nearby and so is a barbeque site.

Note: Access to the Bolderwood Arboretum is not available from the nearby A31 intersection as there the minor road passes below the major road.