Hengrove Park

Introduction

Hengrove Way, Hengrove, Bristol BS14 0HR

Hengrove Park is a 76 hectare former airfield in south Bristol, four miles from the city centre and eight miles from Bristol Airport. Today few remnants of the airport remain and the site is used mainly as an informal open space, recreation ground and sports facility by local communities. Hengrove Park is now part of a major regeneration programme.

Visitor facilities and information

• Cafe (located at Hengrove Play Park)
• Toilet facilities (located at Hengrove Play Park)
• Play Park
• Wheels Park 

Admission

Admission to Hengrove Park is free of charge.

Access

Access to Hengrove Park is via Hengrove Way, the Leisure Park, Bamfield, and pedestrian routes at the rear of St Giles Estate and Whitchurch Sports Centre.

Opening hours

• Hengrove Park is open all year round.

What’s on

Please check out the event listing to find out what's on at Hengrove Play Park.

Hengrove play park

This state-of-the-art adventure play park was opened in 2002. It is one of the most exciting play parks built in England in recent years, and is the biggest free play park in the south of England. The £1.4m four acre play park is funded and managed by Bristol City Council and includes facilities for all ages from toddlers to teenagers.

Visitor facilities

• 12 metre high dome housing a jungle play experience
• Sand and water play for younger children
• Large wheels park for skateboarders, in-line skaters and BMX riders
• Distinct zones with the latest challenging activity equipment
• Large central grassed space to run around in
• Café
• Toilets
• Seating

You can download a map and layout of the new Hengrove Play Park. (pdf, 1.1 MB)

Access

The play park is on the site of the former Whitchurch airfield, alongside Hengrove Leisure Park and Cineworld multiplex. Access to the Hengrove Leisure Park is off Hengrove Way where there is car parking.

Plan your journey to Hengrove Play Park with Regional Map, Journey Plannerand City Map Viewer.

Hengrove play park opening times

Opening and closing times may vary at the discretion of staff. For more information contact the Play Park on 01275 836 946.

Hengrove wheels park

Opening times April to September

• Monday to Friday: 10am - 7pm
• Saturday and Sunday: 10am - 6pm

Opening times October - March

• Monday to Friday: 10am - dusk
• Saturday and Sunday: 10am - dusk

Since Hengrove Wheels Park was opened in 2002, it has become integrated in both the urban sports scene and the local community of South Bristol. Being the largest site of its kind in the south west, it is frequented by locals and enthusiasts from all over southern England.

The site is host to a number of local extreme sports events and workshops, with the result that the standard of the locals is beyond the norm. The experience obtained day in and day out, from practising on such an epic site is unique and valuable.

The Wheels Park includes features for BMX, rollerblades and skate boards:

• Half pipes
• Ramps
• Bowls
• Boxes
• Rails

Events and Activities

Events at the wheels park have taken place in the past in partnership with local community groups such as the Backwardhat charity and the Tribe.

Other events and activities take place on this site and others throughout the city 

Hengrove Wheels Park opening times

The Wheels Park is open from 10am til 8pm daily and is floodlit after dusk.

Wildlife and conservation

At the west end of the park there is an unusual bowl-shaped area rich in wildlife. This site contains species-rich grassland on the banks, with marshy areas in the base, and trees and hedgerows linking the bowl to the road.

Seasonal Highlights

Spring

• Warm weather will bring out early butterflies and bees
• The site will be turning green with new growth, especially in the wetland areas
• Birds will start nesting: look out for whitethroat and linnet among the more commonly-seen species

Summer

• Lots of flowers in the Bowl and along the roadside banks: look out for the curiously-named Corky-fruited water-dropwort, with its froths of white flowers and bright cerise Grass vetchling;
• Green woodpecker can be heard flying around the site
• Look out for insects, including butterflies and dragonflies, on hot summer days

Autumn

• Enjoy the blackberries (but leave some for the animals!), together with late flowers and young birds

Winter

• Watch out for flocks of migrating birds in harsh weather, including redwings, fieldfares, siskin and redpoll
• Finches will be feasting on seed heads of teasel and other tall herbs