This weekend, Oxford Botanic Garden hosts its first Christmas Fair. One of the organisers, Marc Dabic, takes a peak at what will be going on in this hidden gem

IF YOU are hankering after some enjoyable stress-free Christmas shopping in town this weekend look no further because, this Saturday and Sunday the University of Oxford Botanic Garden will be holding its first Christmas Fair.

Having previously worked on events at the Chelsea Physic Garden, I can see the huge potential for developing an exciting portfolio of events at Oxford’s Botanic Garden.

I am therefore relishing this opportunity to work with my friend Simon Hiscock, the garden’s new director, its passionate team of staff and loyal band of Friends and volunteers.

This ancient garden, founded as a Physic Garden in 1621, is the oldest botanic garden in Britain and will be celebrating its 400th anniversary in five years, so expect many more exciting events in the years building up to 2021.

Prof Hiscock said: “The Christmas Fair is a wonderful opportunity to experience a new way of stress-free Christmas shopping in Oxford, away from the frantic mêlée of the city centre and immersed in the tranquillity of its historic Botanic Garden”.

The Christmas Fair will take place in the Walled Garden – the oldest part of the garden with entry through the grand Danby Gate, built in honour of the Garden’s founder Sir Henry Danvers, first Earl of Danby.

This magnificent arch, designed by Inigo Jones, will shine with lights and resonate festive music from within the garden to draw you into a Winter Wonderland. Inside, against the elegant garden backdrop, expert stallholders will be selling gifts in a warm and beautifully decorated marquee that will bring the magic of Christmas to life.

Amongst the eye-catching stalls you will find: Bee Inspired and Beepalace Ltd, specializing in bees wax and honey skin products and wild bee nesting ‘palaces’; Spice’n’Easy chutneys and pickles; Boy Gift Girl Gift fun stocking fillers; dagny.d handmade scarves and handbags; Pinksters Gin and Nick Bailey of BBC Gardener’s World, who will be signing copies of latest book, the number one bestseller 365 Days of Colour.

Complementing this most beautiful set-up will be the Botanic Garden shop together with enthusiastic community support from the Friends of the Botanic Garden, its volunteer helpers, and the Florilegium – a group of botanical artists who draw and paint the plants at the garden and arboretum.

Visit the Friends’ stall where you will find a beautiful array of homemade festive treats and Christmas decorations.

Delicious food and drink will be provided in the Conservatory by the Tangerine Dream Cafe, who ran the pop-up cafe at the garden this summer.

Hot chocolate, real coffee, mulled wine and cider will be flowing and homemade mince pies, seasonal sweets and cakes are guaranteed to put everyone in a festive mood.

Outside the marquee there will be a roast chestnut seller and winter beers provided by the InnFormal Microbrewery.

Saturday will also be a day of festive music with Magdalen College School Flute Quintet in the morning, Horns of Plenty at 3pm and the Oxford Silver Band from 5.30pm. The Francis Buoa Drumming School will be with us all weekend providing further interactive musical entertainment. There will be plenty for everyone.

As night falls, the garden will be lit up with the glitter of Christmas lights to create a truly magical botanical Winter Wonderland.

So come and join us and enjoy a ‘new’ way of Christmas shopping – more like it used to be.