Greater Fishponds has some of Bristol's finest victorian parks within and around our boundary including Oldbury Court Estate, Stoke Park Estate, Snuff Mills, Grove Wood, Eastville Park, Page Park and St George Park. Each of these parks has their own unique qualities i.e. Page Park which is near to the shopping area in Staple Hill has beautiful gardens, bird cages, tennis courts (popular tennis club), popular children's play area and a pavilion used for community activities and indoor sports including martial arts and Oldbury Court in part of the Forest of Avon with the River Frome flowing through its heart, attracting vast and colourful local wildlife, is home to thousands of trees and is popular with families from around the region while Snuff Mills is an area in bloom and a place full of history; connecting with Stoke Park Estate in an open and rugged grassland which is very popular with walkers and fell runners.
Our parks are patrolled by our local police teams and maintained by Bristol and South Gloucestershire councils.
Our Snuff Mills Café is open 7 days a week from 9.30 until 5.30 (9.30 until 4.30 during the winter months).
Visit Snuff Mills below for details.. Click here
Barton Fields Trust have created a Queen Elizabeth II Field for Fishponds. Click here
New Frome Valley website covering Greater Fishponds fromevalley.co.uk
To report maintenance issues with parks visit:
bristol.gov.uk/page/parks-and-open-spaces & bristol.gov.uk/parklife
Thirteen recommended parks in the Greater Fishponds area include:
Eastville Park, Oldbury Court Park and Snuff Mills with Grove Wood, Bristol and Bath Railway Path, Frenchay Common, Fishponds Park, Stoke Park Estate, Hillfields Park, Page Park, Barton Fields (quarry), St George Park, Kingswood Park, Begbrook Green Park and visit Troopers Hill, Conham and Hanham Lock (River Avon Valley)
However there are other spaces in the area which are worth exploring including: Royate Hill Nature Reserve, Ridgeway Road Playing Fields, Begbrook Green, The Gossy Nature Reserve, Britannia Woods, The Dramway, Conham & Troopers Hill along the River Avon Valley, Magpie Bottom Nature Reserve, Rodway Common, Soundwell Park, Cossham Hill, Greenbank Cemetery, Stapleton Green, Wickham Glen, Lido Fishing Lake. Visit the nature page for nature reserves Nature
Eastville Park is a large inner city park where football teams play on weekends, there are two children's play areas, a bowling green, new tennis courts, a large lake for fishing and feeding ducks, plus the lake is next to the River Frome which runs alongside the park and connects to the Frome Valley via the Forest of Avon trail. From
Eastville Park you can follow the river to Oldbury Court Park via Snuff Mills parks which are all pictured below.
Eastville Park is close to both the Bristol to Bath Railway Path and the new Frome Valley Path which both offer walkers and cyclists a traffic free route in to the centre of Bristol.
Join Eastville Park Tennis Club: bristol.gov.uk/page/bristol-city-tennis-club or keep fit with Cardio Tennis every Friday cardiotennisbristol.com and visit: localtennisleagues.com/bristol/courts
Frome Valley Walkway - Eastville Park fromewalkway.org.uk/placestovisit.html
Forest of Avon forestofavon.org.uk
Friends of Eastville Park - Join their active Facebook group facebook.com/groups/107934965930710/
bristol.gov.uk/page/eastville-park
New Frome Valley website covering Greater Fishponds fromevalley.co.uk
Eastville Parks Bowls Club - explore Bowls England for details of local clubs bowlsengland.com
The Frome valley is naturally beautiful with cliffs, thousands of trees in old woodlands (one of the areas where HTV made Robin of Sherwood in the 1980's staring Michael Praed and later Jason Connery as Robin). In the summer there is a slow and reflective river here but it soon comes alive after heavy rain. The River Frome starts in the Cotswold's and feeds in to Bristol Docks where it then joins the River Avon before flowing in to the River Severn.
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We are very lucky to have Oldbury Court Park and Snuff Mills in Greater Fishponds because people travel to here from miles around to use the park which is one of three of Bristol's largest and finest along with Blaise Castle and Ashton Court.
During the weekend lots of football teams play here, it's good for orienteering and walking because it's part of the Avon Forest so there's several miles of riverside trails available. There are ponds, waterfalls, weirs, fishing areas, keep fit tracks and large open spaces for picnics and family days out.
Lots of animal lovers walk their pets here daily to escape the city life for a while and instead pass through a vibrant park area with ice cream vans; some weeks of the year a fairground can be found here and the gardens here are well managed by skilled gardeners, continually offering people seasonal colours and ultimate contrast in a variant setting in partnership with nature.
When
you visit Snuff Mills start or finsh your walk with a hot drink with Tea just 90p and Coffee £1 or have hot chocolate but if you like Bread Pudding then Snuff Mills Cafe is famous in local circles for the best Bread Pudding in the area!
Cakes at the cafe start from 50p, hot and cold sandwiches start from £2.00 (try our new Roast Pork and Stuffing sandwiches or our bacon or sausage butties.. recommended!) Soups (ask for daily options), Pies and Pasties are £1.80, ice creams from 45p, cold drinks from 50p
chocolate bars are 65p and there's more..
Plus we're 100% dog friendly, enjoy seating at the back of the cafe, indoor and outdoor seating over looking the River Frome (popular for Kingfisher spotting) and it's all free parking and new toliets are provided in the car park.
The cafe is locally owned, we're members of the Snuff Mills Action Group and we take donations here for Snuff Mills.
Open 7 days a week from 9.30am until 5.30pm (Summertime GMT) and 4.30pm (Winter GMT).
Bristol's hidden gem!
Snuff Mills has a very active Action group - the Snuff Mills Action Group who are renovating the gardens by the mill, they have recently been granted £50,000 from the National Lottery to improve the paths etc in Snuff Mills. Plus if you'd like to be involved in the gardens and riverside paths on weekends then the Snuff Mills action group are looking for volunteers
Snuff Mills Action Group, protecting our beautiful river side area: snuffmills.blogspot.com
Forest of Avon forestofavon.org.uk
New Frome Valley website covering Greater Fishponds fromevalley.co.uk
Bristol Council details, including Oldbury Court Cafe, new toilets and opening hours:
bristol.gov.uk/oldburycourtestate
To explore the frome valley please visit the dedicated website: fromewalkway.org.uk
The children's play area is fantastic, with a new cafe, new toilet block and a new park which is cleaned and scrubbed daily where required before 09.00 ready for young people to arrive. This area opened in 2010 and cost in excess of £500k. Recommended!
Autumn Colours of Oldbury Court Estate by Cheryl Martin of the Fishponds walking group Nov 2011 Click here
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Frenchay Common and Village connects with the Frome Valley and is one of Bristol's finest addresses, there's not a children's play area here but similar to the Downs in Clifton this is a wonderful area to relax and Oldbury Court park children's play area is just 10 minutes walk from here by walking through the valley across Frenchay Bridge and across a couple of beautiful open fields, which was once the entrance to the Oldbury Court Mansion; an estate on par with Ashton Court and Blaise Castle. An area professionally landscaped and full of wildlife and 100's of different trees and shrubs.
Visit our pubs page for The White Lion on Frenchay Common to enjoy affordable meals and pleasant coffee and ale, set back on the common, with a beer garden overlooking the valley. One of Bristol's best settings on a nice day..
Pubs page for the White Lion
New Frome Valley website covering Greater Fishponds fromevalley.co.uk
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The Bristol and Bath Railway Path runs through Greater Fishponds and the Bristol part of the path is more than half in our community, from Greenbank to the Staple Hill Tunnel made up of exits 17 to 34. The path is an excellent safe route connecting people and places throughout our community and beyond. Accessing central Bristol is easy and on a dry or sunny day is very relaxing and enjoyable. Travel through the Staple Hill Tunnel and you'll quickly reach the Mangotsfield - Rodway Common Junction; take the left turn and you'll head towards Emersons Green or stay right and you'll contour around to Soundwell, Siston Common, Warmley and Bitton before reaching Salford and Bath. We are very fortunate to have this wonderful path on our doorstep.
You can find out more about the Railway Path here: bristolbathrailwaypath.org.uk
Cycling City has a dedicated website and new paths are planned for other parts of Fishponds betterbybike.info
The Sustrans Volunteer Wardens help to keep our cycle ways clean and respectable. Our group for Greater Fishponds also cover the wider area from Saltford near Bath to Bristol City Centre. During events in Fishponds they'll let us know so that we can all participate to keep our area of the path clean. If you would like to be involved regularly then please visit the following website: sustrans.org.uk/support-sustrans/get-involved there are currently about 20 people looking after our Railway Path.
Friends of the Greater Fishponds section of the Path greaterbristol.com/fishponds/pages/railwaypath.html
The videos above are close to the Staple Hill Tunnel and listen to the Song Thrushes communicate across the path...
Video above of Mangotsfield Railway Path, old station and Rodway Common in Mangotsfield on to of the hill above...
New Frome Valley website covering Greater Fishponds fromevalley.co.uk
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Fishponds Park is small and very pleasant area with well kept toilet facilities on site, a nice play area with swings, lots of benches, well maintained gardens and St Mary's church smfish.net is on one side while Fishponds main Shopping area is on the other. It's also well placed for students of the UWE and is very near to the Forest of Avon for walkers.
More information is available on Bristol Council website for Parks & Open Spaces:
bristol.gov.uk/page/parks-and-open-spaces
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Stoke Park Estate (Purdown) bristol.gov.uk/stokepark is a beautiful open space of 140 acres of parkland and rugged countryside on the edge of Greater Fishponds, running alongside Stapleton and Begbrook and connecting us to the UWE, Frenchay Campus by a new path which cuts through the countryside and in to Stoke Park Estate passing Dower House on the way.
In the opposite direction to Dower House is Bristol's landmark BT Tower where close to the base is the remains of a World War 2 anti-aircraft gun battery. The gun has gone but there's still scars of its position. Local people in Fishponds knew this gun as "Purdown Percy" when it was in use. eugenebyrne.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/purdown-percy
New Frome Valley website covering Greater Fishponds fromevalley.co.uk
Relax afterwards at the Mason's Arms. Visit our pubs page click here
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Hillfields Park has recently been updated and offers a nice children's area with a Basketball Court, BMX area, modern playground facilities, 5 a side football on the grass and there's a nice tarmac path which 'Friends of Hillfields Park' have had implemented around the park offering dog walkers a pleasant trail with seating along the path and waste bins in the corners, near to park entrances. The path has been marked out for distances as well which is used weekly by The Hillfields Walking Group (see the walking page for details). This is a local park but for much more including riverside walks please read about the other eight parks below; especially Oldbury Court Park with a new £500,000 children's play area.. New BMX Pump Track opened in 2012 costing £20k, take the challenge today!
Hillfields Park MUGA.. free for all to use and opened April 2011
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Page Park is truly beautiful, open and very well managed with a lot to offer the whole community. There are plenty of parking spaces around the park and the children's area is vibrant and friendly. There are tennis courts, gardens, bird aviaries and a lots of seating. For it's size this park probably offers more than any other park in the East Bristol area without having to walk up and down hills and in terms of safety and access, especially with Staple Hill shopping area next door offering nice pubs and coffee shops.
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St George Park has a large lake where people can fish, feed ducks and there's a BMX course which is now used by skateboarders and BMX owners (this is the same course where 'BMX Champ from the Hillfields area Jason Davies once practiced and he now lives in the USA and has been world class for over 20 years). There's also new tennis courts, bowling, swings, slides and it has it's own car park which is close to shops including ALDI and Tesco.
bristol.gov.uk/page/st-georges-park
Join St George Park Tennis Club: bristol.gov.uk/page/bristol-city-tennis-club or keep fit with Cardio Tennis cardiotennisbristol.com and visit: localtennisleagues.com/bristol/courts
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Barton Fields Park is off Whitefield Road and Duncombe Lane in Hillfields and is very nice with a large open space behind the children's play area, traditionally still known as "The Quarry" from when it was a deep open cast quarry in the 1950s, with a lilly pond at the bottom and where traditional gipsy families settled. The quarry was later filled in and is now used by Barton Hill Rugby Club, cyclists for access to the Railway Path via Beechen Drive; school children and countless local residents, especially for walking pets. Please read more about the trust below...
Barton Fields Trust - Annual report for 2011/ 2012
Formed in 2005 to run 'Barton Fields' for the Community and Barton Hill Old Boys RFC; the field is being improved year on year by the Trust for the community and the pitches for the rugby club has also seen investment. In 2012 the field became a Queen Elizabeth II Field as a gift for the Diamond Jubilee.
Please visit our website bartonfieldstrust.btck.co.uk.
Barton Hill Old Boys Rugby Club play at Barton Fields.
The Club celebrated its Centenary last year. It has played at the field since 1978 and is very much part of the community.
The clubhouse is available for hire.. please visit our website below for details...
The club are always looking for new players to play in their four sides. The first team play the the 'Western Counties North' league, they practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays and play Saturdays.
There is the Rugby Academy for children and young people from 6 -18years old. They practice on Wednesdays and play on Sundays. New junior players are welcome
For lot more information please visit the our rugby club website: www.bartonhillrugby.com
Barton Field Trust - Diamond Jubilee Gift.
Barton Fields with Barton Hill Rugby
Club have created a Queen Elizabeth II Field for the Diamond Jubilee.
Coombe Brook and Ridgeway Road Playing Fields
Ridgeway Road Playing Fields and Coombe Brook Valley Nature Reserve connect with the Railway Path. It's possible to walk from Cossham Hill to Barton Fields, across to Coombe Brook then connect with Ridgeway Road Playing Fields before connecting with the Bristol to Bath Railway Path and Royate Hill Nature Reserve. A very wonderful trail across part of Greater Fishponds. |
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Kingswood Park is really nice and offers a very similar feel to Page Park. Here there are activities for all, from weight training to tennis courts and bowling through to basketball practice. The gardens are well kept and there's adequate seating. Near the park entrance is a small concrete arena where bands play throughout the warmer months and performers can be watched. Situated next to kingswood shopping centre and opposite a South Gloucestershire Council office this park is convenient and offers something for everybody in the community.
A wonderful area of open space with some children's play equipment based behind the Stapleton and Begbrook Social Club and backing on to Oldbury Court Estate.
New Frome Valley website covering Greater Fishponds fromevalley.co.uk
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Troopers Hill, Conham and Hanham Lock
The River Avon flows through other neighbouring districts. This river has its source in the village of Luckington in the Cotswold's, North Wiltshire. From there it flows through Bath, Saltford and Hanham/ Keynsham before passing by Troopers Hill troopers-hill.org.uk where it soon becomes tidal and enters Bristol Centre before connecting with the River Severn.
.forestofavon.org.uk/out-and-about/places-to-visit/troopers-hill Bristol Council link bristol.gov.uk/troopershill
Beeses Bar and Tea Gardens in Conham River Park, St George and Hanham near Fishponds. beeses.co.uk
The final two video's last for just over six minutes and show the route from the road which connects with Troopers Hill to the picnic area at Conham and beyond at Conham River Park which includes Beeses Bar and Tea Gardens.
During the summer months people can canoe from Saltford to Conham or walk along some of the riverside paths of the Avon Valley Trail where various pubs can be found to help break the journey in beautiful settings.
Visit the dedicated website: riveravontrail.org.uk and stop off at Beeses Bar and Tea Gardens.
Other recommended parks to see in Bristol include:
Blaise Castle Estate bristol.gov.uk/blaisecastleestate
New Frome Valley website covering Greater Fishponds fromevalley.co.uk
Hengrove Park (Family Playground for all ages - £1.4m) and other developments in the area hengrovepark.com
The Downs bristol.gov.uk/thedowns
