Tring Park

Oddy Hill and Tring Park

Site of Special Scientific Interest
Location	Hertfordshire
Grid reference	SP934109 SP928103
Interest	Biological
Area	35.6 hectares
Notification	1986
Location map	Magic Map

Tring Park is a public open space in Tring, owned by Dacorum Borough Council and managed by the Woodland Trust.^[1] It is part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.^[2] Half of the 264 acres (107 hectares) is undulating grassland, grazed by cattle. Part of the park, together with the nearby Oddy Hill, is the 35.6-hectare (88-acre) biological "Oddy Hill and Tring Park" Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).^[3][4]

The park formerly belonged to Tring Park Mansion, built in 1682 by Christopher Wren and altered externally in the nineteenth century.^[5] In the early eighteenth century Charles Bridgeman was employed to lay out the grounds, with a summerhouse and other buildings designed by James Gibbs. The park is Grade II listed by English Heritage in the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England.^[6]

The two areas of the SSSI are grassland on chalk scarp which have a diverse flora including rare species. Much of the parkland is managed by grazing, but ungrazed scrub on sloping areas provides habitat for invertebrates and breeding birds.^[3]

In the wooded Chiltern escarpment are former carriage rides. One of these, King Charles Ride or the King's Ride, forms part of the Ridgeway National Trail. In 2013 work started to restore King Charles Ride by replanting a circle of lime trees at the 'rond point' and improving the vista over the park and town. In the northeast corner are two Grade II listed monuments: an obelisk known locally as Nell Gwynne's monument, and the summerhouse with a grand four-column temple-style portico.

• 
  King Charles Ride
• 
  The Obelisk
• 
  The Summerhouse

See also

• List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Hertfordshire

References

1. "More about Tring Park". Woodland Trust. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
2. "Tring Park". Chilterns Conservation Board. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
3. "Oddy Hill and Tring Park citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
4. "Map of Oddy Hill and Tring Park". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
5. Historic England. "THE MANSION (THE ARTS EDUCATIONAL SCHOOLS) (1342226)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
6. Historic England. "TRING PARK (1000218)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 December 2014.

51.7837°N 0.6561°W / 51.7837; -0.6561