Castle Hill Country Park Contact
The site contact for our Castle Hill Country Park space is Jake Taylor Tel: 07825 365155
This space is managed by the Land Trust.
Region: South West
This countryside park on former farmland to the north of Salisbury provides fine views across a huge area of Wiltshire. The Laverstock Downs, Salisbury Cathedral, Old Sarum and nearby airfield can all be viewed from the high ground. The site has developed in the last few years and is now a fantastic home for wildlife. It is a breeding ground for the Red-listed Skylark and the chalk soils allow for a range of less common plant species.
The Land Trust took over responsibility for Castle Hill Country Park in December 2020 and manages the site in partnership with Wessex Grounds Services who undertake the day-to-day site management and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust who are responsible for developing community engagement. Castle Hill Country Park Volunteers meet on the 2nd Saturday of the month. More information can be found by following the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust volunteering opportunities here – volunteering opportunities.
Find out more about Green Angels exciting FREE training opportunity at Castle Hill Country Park here – Green Angels Castle Hill
The site contact for our Castle Hill Country Park space is Jake Taylor Tel: 07825 365155
This space is managed by the Land Trust.
Open access
Parking is very limited and visitors are encouraged to walk to site or to use public transport. There is a small free car park adjacent to Greentrees Junior School, Saunders Avenue, Riverdown Park SP1 3PG (What3Words ///clasps.showering.decorate), and another off Ford Road SP1 3RZ (What3Words (///slice.venue.summaries). Bike racks are available at the Ford Road Car Park.
(click here to find the nearest public toilets)
The Old Castle (Harvester) is nearby on Old Castle Road (open daily).
Free
A mix of surfaced and unsurfaced paths. Some areas are steep, but flatter routes are also available. Benches are available throughout for resting and admiring the views.
Yes
Well-controlled dogs welcome. During bird nesting season we request owners keep their dogs to the main surfaced paths to avoid disturbing ground nesting birds.
Walking, bird spotting, wildlife watching, splendid views Pillars and Pavers trail, (See Parish Council Website via ‘Other Links’ below for more details), Salisbury Bee Trail, Dog agility & exercise area, First World War Memorial Woodland (planted 2018), Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play (NEAP) and Multi Use Games Area (MUGA).
Site management includes habitat restoration and the creation of floristically rich chalk grassland with associate scrub habitats, a mosaic of traditional farmed habitats (grasslands, wood pasture trees, orchard trees, arable margin flora and hedgerows), woodlands, wetland, neutral grasslands and wet grassland swale habitats.
Old Sarum Iron Age Hillfort, BDAC Old Sarum Airfield Museum, River Bourne Community Farm, Bishopdown Local Wildlife Site, Cockey Down SSSI, Langford Lakes Nature Reserve, Salisbury Cathedral, Mompesson House and Arundells.
Saunders Avenue, Laverstock, Salisbury, SP1 3QX
Site size: 55 hectares
Barratt Homes transferred the Country Park to Laverstock & Ford Parish Council in March 2019. Prior to its transfer, the site was redesigned from the original Developers proposal for a formal green space to a rural Country Park by a Landscape Architect working on behalf of the Parish on a voluntary basis. The design elements were informed by residents’ preferences using a Survey Monkey online questionnaire. Approximately 90,000 tonnes of spoil from the Riverdown Park development were incorporated into the redesign through re-profiling 15 hectares of the site for habitat creation.
Laverstock & Ford Parish Council is working in partnership with The Land Trust to develop the Country Park and maximise the benefits for the local community and wildlife from this important public greenspace.
To contact the Land Trust about this site or how we could help manage your space please email our Countryside & Greenspace Officer (South & West) Jake Taylor .
To enquire about holding an event on a Land Trust site, please click here.
Download Castle HIll Pillars and Pavers Trail Download Salisbury Bee Trail
We are always on the look out for enthusiastic, committed people who want to make a real and lasting difference in their local community.
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