Gardens and green spaces

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Centenary Garden

Centenary Garden is a small green space at the top of Park Street. The garden's design, with a line of Sweet Gum trees, gives a sense of privacy. Staff, students and members of the public can sit and relax away from the main roads and bustle of The Triangle. During graduations, it's a busy place for students and families to gather.

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Visiting and using the gardens

The Centenary Garden is open daily, all year round, to the public, staff and students.

You do not need to buy tickets or pay to use these gardens.

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Things to see and do

Come take a break from your busy day. This garden is the perfect place to relax, recharge and admire the stunning architecture of the Wills Memorial Building. The University offers ticketed tours of the Wills Memorial Building Tower on Saturdays. 

More to see and do in these gardens: 

Trees and plants

In the garden, there are a line of Sweet Gum trees with clear stems. Large, clipped cubes of Yew, Taxus baccata, and hawthorn have been added to create cozy seating areas. Among them, you'll find the native Crataegus monogyna hawthorn as well as the rarer winter flowering Crataegus Monogyna 'Biflora', also known as the Glastonbury Thorn. 

We survey our trees annually, to monitor their health. You can see the name, location and detailed information about our trees, with photographs, on our tree map. Click or tap on a tree on the map for more information about it. 

If you are in the garden, you use the QR codes on many of our larger or more unusual trees to access detailed information about them on the online map.

Seasonal interest

In the spring, enjoy the Magnolia tree (Magnolia denudata) bloom with scented, tulip shaped flowers.

Public art

There are several works of public art a short walk from the Centenary Garden, which you can visit for free.

Permanent artworks include:

Find further works of public art on permanent display around the University. 

Volunteer

Students and staff can join organised volunteering sessions helping out the Gardens and Grounds team in our gardens.

Volunteering activities include:

  • general maintenance including weeding and fence building
  • bulb planting
  • building and maintaining homes for wildlife.

To find out how to take part in volunteering activities:

Instagram for our gardens

See what others are doing in the garden and add your own images #unibrisgardens or tag us in your stories @unibrisgardens.

Facilities

Access

The garden is flat with smooth stone paving on the Wills Tower and Park Street entrances.

Parking

There is no dedicated parking at the Centenary Garden. There are multi-storey car parks within a five-minute walk of the garden.

Bike storage

You can store your bike near the Centenary Garden.

Find bike stores on campus.

Refreshments and toilets

The nearest University Source Cafe which is open to the public is in Beacon House. Staff and students can also access the Merchant Venturers Building Source café. 

There is a toilet at the Source Cafe in Beacon House. 

Find Source Cafe opening hours.

There is a drinking water fountain in the Wills Memorial Building. 

There are several local cafes and shops on Park Street and around The Triangle. 

Seats and benches

There are several benches around the garden and outside the Wills Memorial Building.

Code of conduct

These are public gardens, and we expect visitors to treat the space and each other with respect and courtesy.

  • Take your litter home with you.
  • Only assistance dogs are allowed; keep dogs on leads and clean up after your dog.
  • Supervise children.
  • Stick to paths, avoid disturbing wildlife, and don't damage property, trees, plants or lawns.
  • No barbecues, fires, camping, skateboarding, or aggressive cycling.
  • Follow additional safety instructions, if there are building works taking place.

History of the site and the garden design

The garden was officially opened by historian, museum curator, writer, broadcaster and landscape designer Sir Roy Strong on 8 May 2009.

Anne de Verteuil's centenary garden design compliments the nearby buildings with its strong architectural and geometric style.

Research in the Centenary Garden

Our gardens and green spaces are often used for research projects involving: 

  • small mammals such as bats and birds
  • larger mammals such as badgers and foxes
  • insects such as moths and bees.

We welcome researchers and research projects from various disciplines, including archaeology, art history, biological sciences, geography and geology.

Learn more about doing research in our gardens.

A large old building at the top of a small hill, with lush green grass and trees around it. Small groups of people are sat on the grass. Visit our other gardens

Find out when gardens are open, who can visit, activities and facilities, and garden history.

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