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Outdoor Spaces in Wotton-Under-Edge
The Town Council looks after a number of green spaces in the town. Carrying out other general maintenance, cutting grass, maintaining flower beds and monitoring the trees.
Holywell Leaze
Grassland with pedestrian and disabled access off Holywell Road, plus direct access via a stile on to the Cotswold Way National Trail which runs along its southern boundary. Purchased by the Town Council in 2007, this tranquil, streamside setting is maintained to encourage biodiversity. Information Boards show some of the flora and fauna of the area and give details of the historic mill that was once on the site. There are picnic benches so that walkers and locals alike can enjoy the lovely Cotswold ambience. Please note that dogs are not permitted on the site.
Streamside Walk
A streamside walk from Potters Pond to Valley Road, leading onto the Cotswold Way National Trail. This is a tarmacked path between grassy, tree-lined banks and the stream, affording a pleasant, shady, level walk suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. The section of the path approaching Valley Road is named after the founder of the Round Table organisation in acknowledgement of the contribution the local Round Tablers made in surfacing this part of the path. The stream is home to the white-clawed crayfish, a protected species.
Streamsfield
Grassland on a steep incline between Parklands and Adey’s (Lane), accessed via a footpath from Parklands or directly off Adey’s (Lane) through a kissing gate. There are benches at the top end of the field adjacent to Adey’s (Lane) from which to enjoy the views over the town. The Town Council leases the field to the Wotton-under-Edge Recreational Trust.
Jubilee Clump, Wotton Hill
A small, walled enclosure surrounding mature Scots and Corsican pine trees in a prominent position on Wotton Hill SSSI, one of the feature landmarks of the town. Wotton Hill is on the Cotswold Way and there are wonderful views from here across the Severn Vale and over into Wales. Named in honour of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887 when the trees were replanted.
Strip Lynchets
A lynchet is a bank of earth that builds up on the downslope of a field ploughed over a long period of time. The disturbed soil slips down the hillside to create a lynchet, sometimes referred to as strip lynchets, and are a feature of ancient field systems such as the Celtic field systems.
Dyers Brook
A grassy streamside area near the centre of the town and accessed from Wortley Road.
The Green Chipping
A grassy triangle at the western edge of the Chipping car park with benches.
Conygre Wood
Part of Wotton Hill SSSI, and on a steep south and east facing bank, this is a mature broadleaf woodland of ancient origin, predominantly of beech and ash, around 15.5 acres in all. There is a footpath leading through it from Old London Road to Adey’s (Lane), which is steep and stepped in places. Information Boards detail some of the species of flora and fauna found here, as well as the geology of the wood.
Synwell Green
A small, level grassed area between Mount Pleasant and Knapp Road.
Viewpoints
Views are in abundance in many parts of the town due to its natural topography. Two specific and easily accessible viewpoints maintained by the Town Council are:
Old London Road Viewpoint – a small, fenced viewpoint with carved oak seat.
Rushmire Hill Viewpoint – a small, roadside area with a bench at the northernmost junction of Rushmire Hill and Coombe Lane.
Trees
The Town Council commissions a tree survey every five years to check for any defects or other potential problems with the trees on its land. Works to the trees are carried out in accordance with the recommendations of an arboriculturalist within the prescribed timescales. The Council also provides the Christmas Tree each year on the land at Tabernacle Pitch.
Flowerbeds and Planters
The Town Council maintains a number of the flowerbeds and planters in the town, including those at the front of Parklands; the War Memorial; the Chipping Clubroom; the top of Bearlands; Tabernacle Pitch; Junction of Gloucester Street/Bradley Street; adjacent to bus shelter at New Road; Coombe Triangle. There are also a number of planters that are sponsored and maintained by other organisations in the town. A significant contribution is also made towards the lovely hanging baskets organised by Wotton in Bloom. They adorn the shopping streets each summer.
Public Rights of Way
The Cotswold Way National Trail runs through the centre of the town, which attracts many visitors, both walkers and cyclists. There is a lot for walkers and horse riders to explore as there are almost one hundred public rights of way in the parish, many offering the chance to enjoy wonderful Cotswold views. The Town Council has a committee which actively monitors the condition of the public rights of way so that they remain accessible and enjoyable to locals and visitors alike.
