Walkers will be able to enjoy fields overlooking Oxford’s dreaming spires, thanks to the Oxford Preservation Trust.

The trust has bought the 10-acre site linked to 19th century poet Matthew Arnold,from All Souls College, Oxford.

As well as offering spectacular views of the city, the land includes an oak tree made famous in one of Arnold’s poems.

The trust already owns large areas of land on Boar’s Hill, including Jarn Mound, and Chilswell Fields alongside the new area of land.

The site is understood to have cost £70,000 and a fundraising campaign has been launched by the trust, with about £25,000 collected so far.

Trust director Debbie Dance said: “This is a truly wonderful addition to the trust’s landholdings. It’s no surprise that it inspired the poets — it remains inspirational today, the changing views ever able to heighten the spirits.

“To have the chance to share this with the people of Oxford is a remarkable thing and makes the work we do all the more worthwhile.”

The first poet to be linked with Boars Hill was Arthur Clough, a fellow of Oriel College, whose diaries show that the view inspired a poem written in 1842.

But it is Matthew Arnold, a former Oxford University Professor of Poetry, who is most closely linked to the area. His poem Thyrsis contains the description of Oxford as “that sweet city with her dreaming spires”.

He was inspired by a walk during which he glimpsed “a signal elm” that “crowns the hill” with far-reaching views.

Philip Stewart, a trust member, Boars Hill resident and former forestry lecturer, said: “The poem changed the history of Boars Hill, inspiring a succession of poets to make their homes there.

“They included the war poets Robert Graves, Edmund Blunden and Robert Nichols.

“The signal elm, which turns out to be an oak, has a striking form and survives today, having lost its crown, created a new crown lower down and become hollow. It’s a true survivor.”

For details of how to contribute to the appeal fund, call the trust on 01865 242918 or see oxfordpreservation.org.uk A special fundraising walk for the appeal is also taking place on Thursday, May 21.

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