The Stoke Park Project is a collaboration between Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust, Bristol City Council and Steve England Outdoor Learning.
We are working together to promote community conversations about your heritage conservation priorities and which access improvements are needed for Stoke Park.
This weekend included our 17th event, a fact filled History of Stoke Park walk.
Despite the gloomy forecast we had 24 attendees join us as we explored the heritage and historical aspects of this section of the park.
Making use of the accessible paths we travelled through Long woods, Hermitage woods and Barn woods, pausing along the way to see ancient pillow mounds, tunnels, the cart pond, boundary markers, drainage ditches and more.
We paused at the great saloon, site of a hermitage, enjoying the calm atmosphere and bird song and admired the circle of plane trees.
I grew up in Lockleaze and love coming back to visit Stoke Park-the improvements to entrances and paths mean we can visit any time of the year now.
We learnt more about the monuments on the way to the Dower House and heard more about the fascinating history of the Beaufort Family , Thomas Wright and the Burden Institute.
We finished the walk with a visit to the site of the rotunda and speculated what might have happened there years ago, when the view was straight through to the Frome Valley and there were over 20 varieties of roses close by.
We really enjoyed this morning’s walk and talk. It makes such a difference when you have knowledgeable guides- now I know what we are looking at!
I always thought this was just woods-such a surprise finding out about all the monuments-and the Romans! Thank you
And yes we found some mushrooms and we also found quite a bit of mud.
Everyone appreciated the work carried out around the cart pond and rotunda- well done to the Rangers and park volunteers!
A fact filled, fantastic way to spend a wet winter morning, learning together in Stoke Park. Thank you everyone.
Throughout the walk we discussed the importance of feedback for this project and how the events and surveys are supporting people to join the conversation to capture your priorities. Attendees please don’t forget to complete your feedback!
- You can join in the conversion today even if you don’t join us for an event by doing the survey here.
- You are very welcome to join us as we explore Stoke Park together on more free events- book now.
- To report an issue in the park click here.
- To join the Rangers and weekly volunteer group or monthly litter pick group click here.
“I think conversations about how we can all do more to protect parks are really important”
