Hillfield Gardens (also known as Highfield, Woodbine Hill)

The current site varies little from the 1886 Ordnance Survey map in layout. A driveway from London Road still sweeps up to the house (although vehicles now enter from Denmark Road). There is a perimeter path adjacent to shrub borders underlying mature pine trees in places.

Two ancient monuments adjoin the path visible from London Road (Scriven's Conduit and The King's Board). The path passes in front of the house and alongside a rockery with rocks dating from the original garden. A small rose garden is accessed from the driveway. The central area of the garden is lawn inset with several large trees and a grassed terrace. There are one or two semi-circular areas for bedding out plants. The chancel of St Mary Magdalen's Chapel is accessed by a path from the eastern end of the garden behind the ornamental lodge building.

The general condition of the site has been much improved very recently, following public consultation. Overgrown shrubbery areas have been cut back, an enclosed rose garden has been opened up to encourage public use, and an overgrown rockery has been cleared and replanted. Council contractors will maintain the main flowerbeds with appropriate annual bedding twice yearly. A planting scheme of low growing shrubs, ferns, perennials and bulbs has been approved by the Friends group for the cleared areas.

An annual fund raising musical event is organised as part of the Gloucester Festival, which attracts several hundred local people of all ages, who bring picnics and enjoy the music and the garden. The Friends apply for grants wherever they can and the Probation Service provided labour for the heavy work involved in tidying up the site, as well as voluntary work by local residents and professional contractors. It is a good example of how public and private partnership can improve a small urban park.