The Site

The site for the National Wildlife Conservation Park is the Hollywood Tower Estate, a 55 hectare (136 acres) estate located to the north west of Junction 17 of the M5, opposite Cribbs Causeway and close to the village of Easter Compton. It lies approximately 7 miles (and 15 minutes by car) from Bristol Zoo Gardens.

The site is located on two levels:  there is an upper plateau at motorway level and running right through the site is a wooded escarpment leading down to the lower plains, on a level with Easter Compton village.  The area of woodland on the scarp slope to the north of the parkland, some of which is designated ‘ancient woodland’ remains, together with historic rides and paths through it.  These were linked to a circular walk in the park in the 1920’s and can still be seen today.

The site includes four residential properties, a model farm and the former Mansion House, and is completely self-contained with roads running around the perimeter.  In addition, there is a Victorian “folly” clock tower that was built as an observatory in the 1840’s, complete with clock made by the manufacturers of London’s Big Ben.  Formerly the family home of Sir George White, the Mansion (originally known as Holly House) along with its stables, walled garden, orchard and associated structures dates from the 1820’s and remains largely intact.  The Mansion is now used as offices and as a small conference centre.