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 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 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 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 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 • � Please keep your dogs on the lead around Photo’s courtesy of Bracknell Camera Club (Italian website www.greenstat.org.uk 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. 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. Continue down 0.650 Km this path passing a play area to your left and on to an avenue of unusual Birch trees marking the Birch Coots sometimes make their untidy nests of 2 Hill neighbourhood. At the car park turn sharp right straw in the middle of the lake and swans nest 3 Gladstone Glade following the path back and soon turn left to return beside the lake. 0.665 Km down the Yew Avenue to the Rose Garden and the start When you reach the end of the lake, go up the slope of the Temple Trail. behind the large oak tree along the track which leads When you reach the Wellingtonia tree, take the track on Ringmead into the woods. Here you will find broadleaved species the right behind the Wilde Theatre. Pass through the As the path bends you will pass on your left the sculpture including Oak, Sweet Chestnut, Birch and Holly. After gate to the upper garden and descend the steps on the Gravity 12 (1980), by Barry Mason (pictured right). Note about 60 metres take the track up the slope to your right to return to the start passing the Italian Garden and the sculpture Ripple Wall (1982) by William Pye, within right. At the top, from a circle of tall Beech trees, turn terrace. For those unable to descend the steps, return 4 5 the lake on the opposite side, and an unnamed sculpture right onto the top of the open slope and past the to the front of the Mansion retracing your steps and further on the right. dead wood stump of a tree. either cut through the building or go back via the route 6 9 Continue with the lake on your right, passing new Dead wood provides an ideal habitat for a large you came across the driveways to end back at the 7 Rose Garden. 8 plantings of Dawn Redwood to your right. Before turning variety of small insects, plants, mosses, fungi 1 Reedbed Board Walk to cross the footbridge, look ahead to a larger Yew and lichens that rely on the rotting wood. Oscar Wilde named one of his best known 11 avenue and to the left you can see the old kitchen garden Ash Avenue characters Lady Bracknell. She is said to have 2 wall. Cross the bridge where you will get a good view of been modelled on the Marchioness of Queensberry Pass behind one of the majestic Cedars of Lebanon that 3 Rings of Pachamamma the Mansion. used to encircle the whole estate. Some still remain but who lived locally. Although there is no evidence that others have been newly planted as part of the restoration Wilde did actually visit SHP he could have done so. He 4 Car park 10 wrote to his close friend, Lord Alfred Douglas, of sitting works. There is a grand view here across the lake, Arts Centre which is particularly beautiful on a clear sunset. Cross in yellowing woods in Bracknell in October 1892 with 5 13 12 to the track beside the North Lake Estate, turn right and Lord Alfred’s mother, the Marchioness. 6 Rose Garden South go down to turn left and follow the lakeside path, leaving 7 Yew Walk Lake 8 Play area 9 Italian Garden 14 Gladstone Glade 10 Gravity 12 Haversham Hike This walk takes you mainly through woodland and, in 11 Holm Oak places, is steep, with drops to the side but it does follow Leave the Rose Garden pass through the walled yard, surfaced paths. It is unsuitable for wheelchairs. and cross the driveways between the beech hedges and 12 Wellingtonia Seat hornbeam trees to the pavement. Carefully cross the 13 Ripple Wall From the Rose Garden turn left up the steps or via the road and turn left to head for 100 metres towards the access ramp to the Terrace which takes you across the small car park. Cross this and continue along the Ash 14 Bridge across lake rear of the Mansion and past the Italian Garden, restored Avenue bearing slightly right. in 2011 to the designs of Temple Moore from 1893.

Reed beds were traditionally used as filters for household ‘grey water’ and it seems likely that this was the purpose of this largish area after the water had first filtered through the smaller bed at the At the path junction continue straight on into the house end of North Lake (see Wilde Wander). Today woodland and up a steep slope. Here are more Lime the lake and reed beds serve as balancing ponds to trees and various species of Oak, Yew and Cherry Laurel. absorb excess water and prevent flooding. Various At the top of the path you can see clumps of Silver Birch wildlife thrive in the damp conditions including flowers yet higher up. These are common in the local sandy such as Ragged Robin and wading birds such as soils. You might also notice a Beech tree that has been Snipe that like the soft mud. damaged by lightning and which now has a rowan Note the initials in the wrought iron railings, growing high up where the trunk divides. Just beyond Cross the boardwalk and follow the path to your right ADH, Sir Arthur Divett Hayter, owner at the there is a standing dead Beech tree. Continue down passing near the end of North Lake and the weir. Follow time of the 1890s works. the path and towards the bottom of the track. the path leaving the lake on your left and return towards This avenue of Ash trees was planted in 1995 the Mansion. By the lake you will find a rich abundance From here there are two alternative routes. For those who Keep an eye out for remnants of the old ‘pet to commemorate the fifty years since the of wildlife (see Wilde Wander) as well as a new sculpture are able, go up the steps to the upper garden, you will see cemetery’ on the left where family pets were end of the Second World War. The avenue, commissioned for the restoration project (see below). yew hedges ahead on either side. Pass through the gate formerly laid to rest. which loosely follows the original drive of the Mansion Cross back over the road with care to return to in the yew hedge on your right and follow this path which also has some oaks and Common Limes which are the trail start. comprises an avenue of Common Lime trees. To bypass When you reach the lake, turn to your right alongside the remnants of the avenue that formerly marked the drive. The Rings of Pachamamma have been the steps, from the Italian Garden pass through the gate lake and after about 30 metres turn onto the path back specifically made for this site at South Hill between stone pillars onto the path along the top of a low into the woods. After approximately 100 metres you will Make your way down the tree lined avenue until you Park by the sculptor Lucy Strachan. They have bank, take the first path on the left into the woods and see a tall Holm Oak on your right. Continue down this reach its western end which was the original entrance evolved as part of a series of work inspired by the then the first right to rejoin the route. path back to the gates into the Italian Garden and then to the Mansion and had the West Lodge nearby. From lines and markings of our own ancient landscape across the Terrace back to the Rose Garden. the end of the Ash Avenue turn right and then right again and an environmental story from South America. The A native of Britain, the Common Lime is often until you reach a new board walk on your left which runs sculpture has five, 3 meter concrete elements that are planted in parks as an ornamental shade tree. This Holm Oak is the unusual evergreen tree across the old reed beds. in a constant state of sinking into or being ejected from It is widely used in the manufacture of musical said to have been planted in December 1893 the earth. Lucy hopes that people will want to interact instruments and artist’s charcoal and was used by by Mr Gladstone, who is known to have enjoyed with the sculpture and enjoy it on many levels. Italian Garden famous sculptors such as Grinling Gibbons (1648-1721) felling and replanting trees with saplings. for his wood carvings.