Robinswood Hill
Encyclopedia
Robinswood Hill is a hill and country park to the south of the city centre of Gloucester
, close to the Stroud Road (A4173). It rises to 650 ft (198 m), and is owned and managed by Gloucester City Council's Countryside Unit. The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
also have their head office based here.
It was originally one of the main sources of water to the city. The springs rising on Robin's Wood Hill were used by Gloucester Abbey
in the 13th century. Reservoirs were built by the Gloucester Water Company in 1837-8 and taken over by the City in 1855. Robinswood Hill ceased to provide water supply in 1924 but the reservoirs remained in use for storage until 1946: they have now been backfilled to provide carparks and a countryside centre for the thousands of visitors that use the hill for recreation and inspiration. The park also holds the Rare Breeds Centre which is also open for the visitors of the hill.
It is home to much wildlife and affords spectacular views of the surrounding area including other hills of Gloucester, the Cotswolds
, Malvern Hills
, May Hill
and on a clear day the Severn Bridge
s.
The country park itself covers 250 acres (1 km²) and has a number of sites, a dry-ski slope and a rare-breeds farm.
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
, close to the Stroud Road (A4173). It rises to 650 ft (198 m), and is owned and managed by Gloucester City Council's Countryside Unit. The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is the Gloucestershire local partner in a conservation network of 47 Wildlife Trusts. The Wildlife Trusts are local charities with the specific aim of protecting the United Kingdom's natural heritage...
also have their head office based here.
It was originally one of the main sources of water to the city. The springs rising on Robin's Wood Hill were used by Gloucester Abbey
Gloucester Abbey
Gloucester Abbey was a Benedictine abbey for monks in the city of Gloucester, England. The abbey was founded about 1022 and was dedicated to Saint Peter. It is recorded that the abbey lost about a quarter of its complement of monks in 1377 due to the Black Death.In 1540, the abbey was dissolved by...
in the 13th century. Reservoirs were built by the Gloucester Water Company in 1837-8 and taken over by the City in 1855. Robinswood Hill ceased to provide water supply in 1924 but the reservoirs remained in use for storage until 1946: they have now been backfilled to provide carparks and a countryside centre for the thousands of visitors that use the hill for recreation and inspiration. The park also holds the Rare Breeds Centre which is also open for the visitors of the hill.
It is home to much wildlife and affords spectacular views of the surrounding area including other hills of Gloucester, the Cotswolds
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
, Malvern Hills
Malvern Hills
The Malvern Hills are a range of hills in the English counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and a small area of northern Gloucestershire, dominating the surrounding countryside and the towns and villages of the district of Malvern...
, May Hill
May Hill
May Hill is a hill between Gloucester and Ross-on-Wye, whose summit is on the western edge of Gloucestershire, though its northern slopes are in Herefordshire....
and on a clear day the Severn Bridge
Severn Bridge
The Severn Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the River Severn between South Gloucestershire, just north of Bristol, England, and Monmouthshire in South Wales, via Beachley, a peninsula between the River Severn and River Wye estuary. It is the original Severn road crossing between England and...
s.
The country park itself covers 250 acres (1 km²) and has a number of sites, a dry-ski slope and a rare-breeds farm.