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Matson Park

19 ha

📷 Lewis Clarke · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsPlay

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome19 ha

Getting here

51.83753, -2.21845

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

☀️June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit
☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
🛝Playground 138m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site

🌤️ Visiting this summer

☀️June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit
☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
🛝Playground 138m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Bike parkingParking· FreePlayground

Best for

8 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Woodpigeon, Magpie, Robin +59 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Woodpigeon, Magpie, Robin +59 more · last seen 2026

Free

Playgrounds

Strong match

playground, parking

Free

Family friendly

Strong match

playground; Urban park — family destination

Free

Dog walks

Strong match

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, Harlequin Ladybird, Pea-leaf Weevil +26 more · last seen 2026; Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, Harlequin Ladybird, Pea-leaf Weevil +26 more · last seen 2026

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

14 signed routes nearby · 21 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

Gloucestershire WayWalking route161 km

Named routeLength 161 kmRegional walking route

Cotswold WayWalking route164 km

Named routeRef CWLength 164 kmNational walking route

Wysis WayWalking route88.5 km

Long distance footpath forming a link between the Thames and the Wye

Named routeRef WYSLength 88.5 kmRegional walking route

Geopark WayWalking route175 km

Named routeRef geoLength 175 kmRegional walking route

Geology TrailWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

Dragon Pathpublic footpath · 353 m

Public pathpublic footpathLength 353 mPath type: path

Saint Peters Roadpublic footpath · 107 m

Public pathpublic footpathLength 107 mSurface asphaltPath type: pedestrian

🚴

Cycling

100 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Mercian WayCycling route

Named routeRef 45National Cycle Network

Route 41Cycling route

Named routeRef 41National Cycle Network

Gloucestershire Cycle SpineCycling route

Named routeLocal cycle route

Route 6Cycling route

Named routeRef 6Local cycle route

National Cycle Network Route 42Cycling route

Named routeRef 42National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route47 m

Named routeRef 42Length 47 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

🐴

Horse riding

9 public paths nearby

Public paths

Wheatwaybridleway · 111 m

Public pathbridlewayLength 111 mPath type: tertiary

Wheatwaybridleway · 120 m

Public pathbridlewayLength 120 mPath type: tertiary

Wildlife to spot

52,588 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

52,588 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds39 species

winter

2026

Woodpigeon · Magpie · Robin · Black-headed Gull · Blue Tit +34

WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
MagpiePica pica
RobinErithacus rubecula
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
JackdawColoeus monedula
BlackbirdTurdus merula
House SparrowPasser domesticus
RedwingTurdus iliacus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Great TitParus major
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
TealAnas crecca
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
JayGarrulus glandarius
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
Water RailRallus aquaticus2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
RavenCorvus corax2025

🦌

Mammals2 species

winter

2025

Red Fox · Grey Squirrel

Red FoxVulpes vulpes
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis

🐝

Insects6 species

spring

2026

Pea-leaf Weevil · 7-spot Ladybird · Dark-edged Bee-fly · Eristalis similis · Scathophaga stercoraria +1

Pea-leaf WeevilSitona lineatus
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major
Eristalis similisEristalis similis
Scathophaga stercorariaScathophaga stercoraria
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

52,588 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds39 species

winter

2026

Woodpigeon · Magpie · Robin · Black-headed Gull · Blue Tit +34

WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
MagpiePica pica
RobinErithacus rubecula
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
JackdawColoeus monedula
BlackbirdTurdus merula
House SparrowPasser domesticus
RedwingTurdus iliacus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Great TitParus major
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
TealAnas crecca
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
JayGarrulus glandarius
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
Water RailRallus aquaticus2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
RavenCorvus corax2025

🦌

Mammals2 species

winter

2025

Red Fox · Grey Squirrel

Red FoxVulpes vulpes
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis

🐝

Insects6 species

spring

2026

Pea-leaf Weevil · 7-spot Ladybird · Dark-edged Bee-fly · Eristalis similis · Scathophaga stercoraria +1

Pea-leaf WeevilSitona lineatus
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major
Eristalis similisEristalis similis
Scathophaga stercorariaScathophaga stercoraria
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Lewis Clarke · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Gloucester : Matson - Matson Park

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Robinswood Hill Country ParkUrban park1.1 km→🌱Glevum Way ParkUrban park1.1 km→🌱Scott Avenue Open SpaceUrban park2.7 km→🌱Holmleigh ParkUrban park3.3 km→🌱Prinknash Bird and Deer ParkUrban park3.4 km→🌱Matson ParkUrban park200 m→

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