Consisting of 442 acres of land, The Downs is often dubbed Bristol’s ‘green lung’. Made up of Durdham Down and Clifton Down, the area has been protected from development since 1861 and spreads from the cliffs of the Avon Gorge to the edges of the Victorian-built suburbs.
Durdham Down is owned by Bristol City Council and makes 210 acres of the land, while Clifton Down makes the remaining 204 acres of land and has been owned by the Society of Merchant Ventures since 1686.
From the 18th-century, some of the land was used as lead and stone quarries, and until the mid-19th-century, the Downs was used as a rough pasture land for sheep grazing.
Horse races were held in the 19th-century, especially during Easter, as well as wrestling and boxing contests, and cricket matches between school teams of ‘young gentlemen’ and amateur cricket clubs.
The Society of Merchant Venturers gifted Clifton Down to the public indefinitely through an Act of Parliament in 1861.
On 22 May 2011, the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Downs Act was celebrated with a Victorian-themed event. The 95th Rifles Napoleonic Military Group provided a lively reminder of how the Downs were used for military encampments and parades in years gone by.
Nowadays, the Downs is home to The Downs League – a thriving amateur football league with many pitches. The Downs also hosts many major events, charity runs, circuses, funfairs and sponsored abseiling events.
The Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project supports the wildlife in the park and runs events and tours, and the Friends of The Downs and Avon Gorge is a community group that supports the park.
Almost a dozen trails are available at the Downs including seasonal family trails and history trails.
The Downs is also considered a Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Site, a site of nature conservation interest and a Dark Sky Discovery Site (it’s basically a good place to look at the night sky).
Here are 23 photos from our visit to the Downs:
17. Gully goats
A small herd of male goats were introduced into the fenced area known as the Gully to restore wildflower-rich grassland and help rare plants by controlling scrub, bramble and ivy. The goats are being looked after by the Downs Rangers team with help from the Friends of the Downs and Avon Gorge. | Adriana Amor
18. Fitness
Located near Ladies Mile, the small fitness station was built in loving memory of Abby Lucy Neville. | Adriana Amor
19. Events
The Downs hosts many major events, charity runs, circuses, funfairs and sponsored abseiling events. At this moment in time, it is hosting the Circus Extreme. | Adriana Amor
20. Drinking fountain
The drinking fountain was built for both people and animals in 1874 after the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society’s show made a substantial profit. | Adriana Amor