SPRING has sprung and the lawns of Batsford Arboretum are covered in a golden carpet of daffodils, all ready for Sunday, designated Daffodil Sunday.

Warmer weather in recent days has brought the grounds of the arboretum near Moreton to their full glory with a dazzling display, one of the main highlights at this time of the year.

Batsford, which is open from 10am to 5pm seven days a week, houses one of Britain's largest private collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are extremely rare, and now a new venture could help to safeguard their future. The neighbouring garden centre has joined the arboretum under the control of the Batsford Foundation, the charity that runs the arboretum. Managers hope that profits from the centre, partly housed in the old kitchen gardens of Batsford House, will now be able to help support the arboretum, which attracts 35,000 visitors each year.