Things to see and do

Walk through the University’s very own arboretum. Listen to the birds chirping and take in the sights of the local wildlife.

The University Botanic Garden is nearby and is free for students to enter. It’s a beautiful space with more than 4,500 species of plants for you to explore. More to see and do in these gardens: 

• Trees and plants
• Wildlife and nature
• Stoke Bishop Active Trail
• Public art
• Volunteer
• Instagram for Stoke Bishop Gardens

Trees and plants

Wills Hall, the oldest residential hall in North Village, boasts a Victorian formal style of planting. Trimmed yew hedges and striped croquet lawns define its classic charm, with majestic Cedars on the main lawns.

A pinetum welcomes visitors at the main entrance, showcasing impressive specimens of Redwood and Cedar of Lebanon trees. 

Wills Hall also offers a serene 'Quiet Garden'. Here, vibrant perennials and exotic shrubs provide a sanctuary for students in search of tranquillity. On sunny days, you may spot Royal Horticultural Society students working hard growing plants in their allotment beds.

We survey our trees annually, to monitor their health. You can see information about all our trees, with photographs, on our online map.  

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

Seasonal interest

In late summer and autumn, the Quiet Garden at Wills Hall bursts into life with impressive displays of late-flowering perennial plants such as Asters, Leucanthemum, and Salvia. 

During winter, frost glistens on the leaves of the Cedar and Redwood trees, contrasting beautifully with carpets of snowdrops below.

Wildlife and nature

Wills Hall Gardens are full of wildlife. Keep an eye out for woodpeckers, jays, and other lawn-feeding birds flitting among the trees. Invertebrates make their homes within the cavities of veteran apple trees on the main lawns. You may even catch a glimpse of foxes exploring the area. Look for fascinating fungi like parasol mushrooms in the pinetum and chicken of the woods on the old oak trees.

Stoke Bishop Active Trail

Sport, Exercise, and Health has partnered up with the Gardens and Grounds team to make a marked trail around the Stoke Bishop residential area. The trail covers all residences, including Wills Hall Gardens, offering students a chance to get active whilst exploring the beautiful grounds right near their accommodation.

Download the active trail.

Public art

There is one work of public art in Wills Hall Gardens, which you can visit for free. This is Edith and Hans, by Sarah Staton. 

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:

• staff, contact us
• students, find University-organised volunteering opportunities on the events calendar or volunteering opportunities organised with the SU in the Students' Union's What's On events list
• students, if you want to volunteer with us regularly, join the Students' Union's Conservation Group

Instagram for Stoke Bishop Gardens

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

Facilities

• Access
• Parking
• Bike storage
• Transport Hub
• Refreshments and toilets
• Seats and benches
• Code of conduct
• Hiring Wills Hall Garden

Access

The garden features a mixture of wide surfaced paths and smaller unsurfaced paths with slopes, including some steps.   

Parking

There is no dedicated parking at Wills Hall Garden. There is metered parking in the streets around the gardens, near The Downs. 

Bike storage

You can store your bike near Wills Hall Garden.

Transport Hub

Wills Hall Garden next to the Stoke Bishop transport hub. Operated by First, the Bristol services connect students and staff between the residences at Stoke Bishop, our Clifton campus, the city and our Langford campus. Catching a bus to visit the gardens is easy, and free to use for first year students living in halls of residence. View the timetable to see when U1 and U2 buses operate.

Refreshments and toilets

The nearest University Source outlet is the Hiatt Baker Village Shop.  

There is a toilet at Source Cafe. 

Find Source Cafe opening hours.

Seats and benches 

There are several benches around the garden.

Code of conduct

This is a private garden, and we expect visitors to treat the space with respect and courtesy. 

• Take your litter home with you.
• Keep dogs on a lead.
• 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.

Hiring Wills Hall Garden

You can hire Wills Hall Garden for your own event or function. Wills Hall can also be booked for meetings.

To hold an event at Wills Hall Garden: 

• Staff, students and members of the public should contact our events team.

History of the site and the garden design

Find out more about the history of the site how the garden design has evolved.  

In the 19th century, the estate comprised of a large, wooded area, used for deer hunting and a farm. The space featured enclosed gardens, Downside House (now known as Wills Hall) and an elegant driveway. 

Today, evidence of these features remains. Among others, you can just make out where the kitchen garden and its glasshouses once stood, overlooking the rectangular quartered garden.

In the early 20th century, the quad was designed based on those seen at Oxford. There was originally a pool in the centre, but this was removed to avoid student 'dunkings'.

Find out more about the history of Wills Hall garden and our other gardens in the Historic Gardens Book.

Research in Wills Hall 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.