View source for The Park, University of Gloucestershire

{{Short description|Park in United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox park
| name = The Park, University of Gloucestershire
| photo = Orobanche hederae1.jpg
| photo_width = 175
| photo_caption = Example - ivy broomrape (''Orobanche hederae'')
| type = Community green space
| location = Cheltenham
| map = Gloucestershire
| map_caption = The Park shown within Gloucestershire
| coords = {{coord|51|53|16.7|N|2|5|16.29|W|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| area = {{convert| 23 |acre}}
| created = Partnership arrangements 2009
| operator = University of Gloucestershire
| status = Open all year
}}
'''The Park, University of Gloucestershire''' ({{gbmapping|SO940210}}) is a {{convert| 9.5 |ha|adj=on}} community green space  in [[Cheltenham]], [[Gloucestershire]].<ref name="GWT online guide">[http://www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/reserves/the-park-campus-university-of-gloucestershire Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust online on The Park]</ref>
The site is owned and managed by the [[University of Gloucestershire]].
==History of The Park Estate==
A local solicitor called Thomas Billings purchased the site in 1831 and put plans in train for Gloucestershire Zoological, Botanical and Horticultural Gardens. This was an ambitious project which eventually failed. It is reported that it was to be opened officially on the day of Queen Victoria's coronation in 1838. Elements of the original plans remain which include the ''Elephant Walk'' and the lake which is in the shape of Africa.<ref name="Park guide">'Exploring the grounds of The Park – The history and wildlife of this beautiful University of Gloucestershire site', (undated), Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and University of Gloucestershire joint publication</ref><ref name="Joint summary">
[http://www.glos.ac.uk/latestnews/Documents/parkhistory.doc 'History of The Park Estate', April 2009, University of Gloucestershire/Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust]</ref>
[[Image:House on The Park - geograph.org.uk - 1127222.jpg|thumb|left|Cornerways building at the point of the teardrop, to be entrance to the Gardens]]
The Park is teardrop shaped and at the point of the teardrop is the building which was to be the entrance to the Gardens, which is called ''Cornerways'' and has a high tower.<ref name="Joint summary"/>  The original design included a grand promenade and a crescent of villas and was engraved by J. Fisher.<ref>Griffith, Samuel Young, 1838, 'Griffiths History of Cheltenham and its Vicinity', 3rd edition, London: Longman, Hurst and Co.</ref>
The site was sold to architect [[Samuel Daukes|Samuel Whitfield Daukes]] in 1839.  Dawkes developed The Park as 'pleasure grounds' and designed and had built the villas around it.<ref name="Park guide"/> There are a set of entrance gates which remain from this period, and Fullwood House in the grounds provides a point of interest within the landscape.<ref name="Joint summary"/>
Daukes also designed a number of other buildings in Cheltenham.<ref name="Joint summary"/>
[[Image:Alcedo atthis-8b.jpg|thumb|175px|Example - common kingfisher (''Alcedo atthis'')]]
[[Image:Mallard 1c (5371256024).jpg|thumb|175px|Example - mallard (''Anas platyrhynchos'')]]
[[Image:Taxus baccata 01 ies.jpg|thumb|175px|Example - European yew (''Taxus baccata'')]]
[[Image:Achillea millefolium.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Example - yarrow (''Achillea millefolium'')]]
[[Image:Liriodendron-tulipifera-flower3.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Example - tulip tree (''Liriodendron-tulipifera'')]]
A publication provides a graphical image of the teardrop layout, historical information and species information.<ref>[http://www.glos.ac.uk/latestnews/Documents/explorepark.pdf University of Gloucestershire online download of a graphical representation of The Park and historical and species summaries]</ref>
==Habitat==
The site includes grassland meadow, wooded glades, shrubberies, and hedgerows. It has an ornamental lake. The site is relatively secluded and quiet.  It attracts a range of fauna and supports interesting flora.<ref name="Park guide"/>
There are some 900 trees in The Park which are native and non-native species.  This is considered to be a locally unique collection. Some of the trees date back to the early 1800s. They are generally numbered or marked with a small yellow dot.<ref name="Park guide"/> The trees have been obtained from different parts of the world including the [[United States of America]] and [[Europe]]. A publication details and illustrates a range of some 43 trees of interest and lists shrubs.<ref name="Hickey book">Hickey, M, 1991, 'Trees & Shrubs of The Park', Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education</ref>
==Trees and shrubs==
The trees include evergreen conifers, deciduous conifers and broad-leaved trees and are detailed in two publications.<ref name="Park guide"/><ref name="Hickey book"/> Evergreen conifers of interest include [[common yew]] (planted c. 1831), [[giant sequoia]] (planted c. 1889), [[cedar of Lebanon]] (planted c. 1944), [[deodar cedar|cedar]]s (planted c. 1979), [[blue Atlas cedar]] (planted c. 1969), and [[oak|common oak]] (planted 1839 - 1859). Deciduous conifers of interest include [[dawn redwoods]] (planted c. 1989) and [[European larch]]. Broad-leaved trees include the [[tulip tree]] (planted c. 1964), [[false acacia]] or locust tree (planted c. 1869 - 1889), [[London plane]] (planted c. 1879) and [[Arbutus unedo|strawberry tree]] (planted 1959).
Old [[hazel]] [[coppice]] stools exist in some of the shrubs borders.<ref name="Park guide"/>
==Flowers==
An important species (nationally scarce) found on the site is [[ivy broomrape]].  This parasitic plant is already recorded in Gloucestershire in various localities. It grows on [[ivy]].<ref name="Park guide"/> There are thick areas of [[Hedera hibernica|'Irish ivy']] within the grounds. Wooded areas and hedgerow areas support hybrid bluebells (''[[Hyacinthoides non-scripta]]'' and ''[[Hyacinthoides hispanica]]'').<ref name="Park guide"/>
The meadow areas support a range of species which include [[red campion]], [[Primula vulgaris|primrose]], [[nettle-leaved bellflower]], [[enchanter's nightshade]], [[garlic mustard]], [[hedge woundwort]], [[Torilis japonica|upright hedge parsley]]  and [[green alkanet]]. The car park areas have been constructed of '[[Permeable paving|grass pavers]]' and support species such as [[yarrow]], [[black medick]] and [[Fragaria|wild strawberry]].<ref name="Park guide"/>
==Bird life==
The ornamental lake, with its boathouse, is a focus for birds such as [[mallard]] and [[geese]] and the [[common kingfisher]] visits the site. The [[European green woodpecker|green woodpecker]] is a recorded species.<ref name="Joint summary"/>
==Bats==
The grounds and trees of The Park are home to various bat species.<ref name="Joint summary"/>
==Walks==
The community green space has interpretation boards, and defined walking areas for enjoyment of this open parkland with its meadow areas, woodland glades and lake.<ref name="Park launch">[http://www.glos.ac.uk/latestnews/archive/april09/Pages/newpartnership.aspx 'New Partnership Launched at University', 21 April 2009, University of Gloucestershire]</ref> A publication supporting exploration of The Park is available online.<ref>[http://www.glos.ac.uk/latestnews/Documents/parkwildlifebrochure.pdf University of Gloucestershire/Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust joint brochure]</ref>
==Publications==
{{colbegin}}
* Hickey, M, 1991, 'Trees & Shrubs of The Park', Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education
* 'Exploring the grounds of The Park – The history and wildlife of this beautiful University of Gloucestershire site', (undated), Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and University of Gloucestershire joint publication
* 'History of The Park Estate', April 2009, University of Gloucestershire/Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
* ‘Nature Reserve Guide – discover the wild Gloucestershire on your doorstep’ - 50th Anniversary, January 2011, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
{{colend}}
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
==External links==
* [http://www.glos.ac.uk University of Gloucestershire]
* [http://www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust]
* [http://www.glos.ac.uk/latestnews/Documents/parkwildlifebrochure.pdf University of Gloucestershire/Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust joint brochure]
[[Category:Parks and open spaces in Gloucestershire]]
[[Category:Gardens in Gloucestershire]]