South Hill Park Leaflet
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Introduction � Waymarked Trails � Wilde Wander Temple Trail In 2008 a £2.3M grant was approved by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund to help South Hill Park is a large, attractive, historic This trail is named after This trail is named restore South Hill Park grounds to their former glory. park located south of Bracknell town centre. Oscar Wilde who after noted architect The grounds, which are open to the public, The South Hill Park - Parks for People Project has seen the restoration of many of the Park’s original may have had some Temple Moore include landscaped gardens, lakes and heritage features, as well as the creation of four new waymarked trails so that you may explore the association with the who redesigned areas of woodland all of which surround a parkland and relive what it would have been like to walk around these magnificent grounds some 120 park (see trail text) and the formal garden Grade II Listed Mansion. It’s an ideal place to years ago. for the wildlife that can in 1893 after he enjoy a range of activities including walking, had designed the On your journey around the trails, you will be able to admire attractive features such as a Yew Walk, lime be discovered on this picnicking and bird watching. trail through restoration avenues, a circle of Cedars of Lebanon, an Italian Garden and fabulous views across the north and south of the Over the years pretty lakes to the Mansion. See what wildlife you can also spot in the lakes, reedbeds and woodlands. Mansion. It a succession broadleaved The trails are all named after famous persons who have been associated with South Hill Park at some 1854 - 1900 1856 - 1920 was his only of owners, woodland garden project. including point in its history including a famous author, a diplomat, a noted architect and a former Prime Minister! alongside a scenic lake. Please nobility, a later note that parts of this trail are Prime Minister barley and hay, built a kitchen garden on unmade tracks. There are and the BBC, and developed a beautiful arboretum and steps at the end but these could have helped shrubbery. He is reported to have plagued be bypassed by retracing your shape the park the British Envoy in Lisbon for many good route back. to make it the large orange trees for his conservatory! popular site it is Today the building is used as an Arts Centre, today. with the grounds owned and managed by Gladstone Glade Haversham Hike Bracknell Park History Forest William Ewart Gladstone This trail, which is named The place where the Park now stands Council and and his wife were friends in recognition of Lord was once part of the ancient manor of Bracknell of Sir William and his Haversham, is almost entirely on Easthampstead which existed before Town son Sir Arthur Hayter well made paths. Domesday (1086). The Park first started Council. who were both Whig The restorations to take shape when it was enclosed from MPs (predecessors to For more of the 1890s were Windsor Forest and developed around the Liberal Party). Mr information undertaken the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Gladstone on the visited South by Sir Arthur to include pleasure grounds, shrubberies, Hayter, history of Hill Park on serpentine walks and four large lakes. 1835-1917 Baronet. He the house 1809 - 1898 the weekend The current chain of ownership began in and grounds see the exhibition on the upper was elevated to 1st/2nd December a Barony in 1906 and took the 1760 when William Watts bought the estate landing of the Mansion. 1893 when he planted a Holm on his retirement from service in Bengal name of Lord Haversham of Oak by which this trail Bracknell. Thereafter he was as and built a classical villa. The Mansion and passes. grounds were further extended by George active in the House of Lords as Canning, later Prime Minister, who worked he had been previously in the Commons. the farm with cattle and sheep, wheat, Rose Garden Produced and published by We hope you have enjoyed Bracknell Forest Council Visitor information Directions � Acknowledgements walking our trails. Parks & Countryside Service Advice Environment, Culture and Communities • � Please leave gates and property as you find Credit for research and text used in this leaflet goes If you would like to tell us what you think about to Diane Collins and the Friends of South Hill Park Bracknell Forest Council them South Hill Park or about Bracknell Forest’s other Grounds. parks and countryside sites, you can do so by South Hill Park Time Square • � Protect plants and animals, take your litter Market Street home or use the bins provided completing the questionnaire on the GreenSTAT Bracknell Photo’s courtesy of Bracknell Camera Club (Italian website www.greenstat.org.uk • � Please keep your dogs on the lead around Four walking trails Berkshire RG12 1JD the lakes and do not let your dog approach Garden, Gravity 12), Keith Palmer (Coot), Rachel Johnson (Bluebells), Geoff Brandwood (Temple The future maintenance of South Hill Park T: 01344 354441 or chase wildlife; it can cause serious injury or stress and your dog could get injured. Moore), Old-Print.com (Captain Arthur Divett Hayter) grounds is the responsibility of a full time manager www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/parks and Thinkstockphotos (Oscar Wilde and William and gardener who will be happy to answer • � Be safe - follow any signs and take care when Gladstone). any questions you may have while on site. The OS map data included in this leaflet is provided crossing the road at the front entrance. Conservation work, essential to the wellbeing by Bracknell Forest Council under licence from the of the parkland is undertaken by the Bracknell Ordnance Survey. South Hill Park has endeavoured to ensure that full permission has been sought and given for all Conservation Volunteers and other community materials used in this publication. Every effort has groups. been made to trace the copyright holders and we By Car: South Hill Park is about 7 minutes drive apologise for any unintentional omissions, which from the Town Centre just off the A322 Bagshot we would be pleased to correct in any subsequent Road. It is easily accessible from the M3 (Junction edition. 3) and the M4 (Junction 10). Look for the brown Copies of this document may be road signs saying ‘Arts Centre’ or showing a obtained in large print, easy read, Signage and artworks created by Fred Baier comedy mask. Associates. Braille, on audio tape or in other Refreshments FREE Parking is available at South Hill Park for up languages. To obtain a copy in an Refreshments are available from the Café Atrium, to 170 cars. Time limited parking is available at alternative format, please telephone Mon-Sat 9.30am - 11pm. Birch Hill Neighbourhood Centre. 01344 352000. Sundays 10am - 10.30pm. By bus: A number of buses serve the park, for more details visit www.traveline.info or call 0871 200 2233 Postcode for Sat Nav users RG12 7PA By Train: Bracknell is well served with train services from London Waterloo, Reading and towns in the surrounding area. For details call 08457 48 49 50 or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk By bike: Two adopted cycle routes also cross the site, which incorporates a series of Your guide to 4 waymarked flat surfaced paths. To plan your route visit circular walks around this www.transportdirect.info Courtyard historic parkland. © Bracknell Forest Council 2012 the stand of young Oaks on your left as you head back Wilde Wander towards the Mansion. Trails map and key Temple Trail From the Rose Garden pass through the walled yard, From the Rose Garden go through the arches of the Yew The lakes are fed by both earth drains and and cross the two driveways between the beech hedges Walk and turn left. Follow the path passing the remains of Gormoor Brook which rises in Swinley Woods and hornbeam trees to reach the roadside pavement. formal stonework, the original headwall to the lake on your south of the Nine Mile Ride. There were previously right, until you reach South Lake. Continue along the path, Carefully cross the road. Start to follow the path, keeping at least four lakes: one is lost, one remains in ducting keeping the lake on your right. the lake on your right. Here you will see a small reed under the car park and the South and North Lakes bed (see Haversham Hike) as well as water loving plants remain for us to enjoy. and trees like reed mace, loosestrife, yellow flag irises, The reconstructed Yew Walk is a delightful Cross over the road, turn left and walk for about 50 willow herb, water mint, alders and various species of feature with two yews to each arch (twelve in willow. On the water you may see a variety of waterfowl metres. Take the opportunity to look to your right towards total) as well as a rose strewn arcade and an including Mallard Ducks, Coots, Moorhens, Swans, the newly restored courtyard in front of the Wilde herbaceous border. various geese and more. Theatre and the main Mansion entrance. Information You can see the coat of arms of the Hayter family, owners in 1890, over the Mansion door On warm summer evenings keep an eye out for and, nearby, a bull and frog sculpture. Wilde Wander bats including tiny Pipistrelles and Daubentons 1.130 Km which skim just above the water catching the North midges here. Lake 1 Haversham Hike Once over the bridge turn right onto the tarmac path 1.120 Km where you will see three newly planted Horse Chestnuts on your left and, just beyond these, a beautiful Lucombe Temple Trail Oak and another Cedar of Lebanon.