Downs restoration and car park
Reviving our Grade I registered landscape
Westonbirt Arboretum’s creator, Robert Holford, committed much time and effort to developing the design of the arboretum’s landscape.
Along with Westonbirt house (now Westonbirt School) and gardens, the arboretum and Downs landscape is designated a Grade I Registered Park and Garden by English Heritage.
It is registered for the quality of design, masonry, interior fittings, decorative detail, collection of trees and its important place in history.
Phase one of the Westonbirt Project aims to restore the historic Downs landscape, situated in the centre of the arboretum and currently used as the visitor car park.
A new car park will be created on the left of the main entrance.
Removing cars from their current location means we can replant lost trees, remove inappropriate shrub planting and restore the species-rich grassland habitat.
The distinctive Victorian boundaries, the ha-has, gates and railings found across the landscape, will also be restored or replaced.
Some work on Westonbirt's boundaries has taken place thanks to funding already received. Find out more on the Story So Far page.
The new car park will be screened with oak, beech, yew, box and holly. The new size and location will provide more than double the arboretum’s existing car parking spaces.
It will also double the existing number of disabled spaces. These will be situated close to the proposed Welcome Building.
