Attention!

Robinswood Hill Barracks were used between 1939 and the early 1960s. During World War 2, some of the soldiers based at the site were Royal Signals, experts in engineering and communication systems, and Royal Army Service Corps, responsible for getting supplies to the British Army. Work carried out at the barracks included preparation for D-Day in 1944, where army vehicles were stored onsite and along Reservoir Road.

The barracks were demolished by 1990 to make way for residential housing. Only a single building remains, which is now used as a church - this is the white building you may be able to see through the trees, just outside of the park. This building used to be a gymnasium, and the path you are standing on was used during training.

What's the link to Egypt?

The sculpture is of the Gloucestershire Regiment badge. The badge shows a sphinx on a stand reading 'Egypt', with laurel and 'Gloucestershire' on a scroll below. The design was kept from a previous Gloucestershire regiment for their bravery at Alexandria in Egypt in 1801. The regiment successfully defended against Napoleon Bonaparte's soldiers in a battle fought from two directions. To remember this, the badge was worn both on the front and back of their caps, with the Egyptian sphinx being a symbol of protection. 

Wildlife at army bases 

Army bases can be good for wildlife, this has been seen at the Salisbury Plain military base in Wiltshire. The Plain is the largest area of chalk grassland in north-west Europe, supporting many threatened insect species. In addition to this, human behaviour at the base has formed some unusual habitats. An example of this is the creation of bare ground and pools from the regular movement of tanks. Animals like fairy shrimp breed in the muddy track puddles, and the bare ground provides habitat for rare plants such as red hemp nettle.

If you've enjoyed the trail, why not come along to one of our events.

Or take action to help wildlife around your own home or community.