Robin Hill isn’t just about families having fun and letting off steam...far from it. The park has a very grown-up side too and makes an ideal destination for “grown-ups” without children to visit throughout the spring, summer and autumn.

The park has 8 acres of beautiful English woodland that has grown here at Combley for hundreds of years. It has a tantalising mix of planted clearings, specimen trees, streams, ponds and sculptures. It is a must-see for all green-fingered enthusiasts visiting the Isle of Wight.

Over 100 years ago, the woodland had been planted with an array of unusual plants and trees and was used as a private woodland garden for the local Willis-Fleming estate based at near-by Combley farm. It was used for riding and walking for the family who had wide interests in gardening and it was well maintained and coppiced. Species can still be seen today from that era that would never normally be seen growing in an English woodland, like a Giant Redwood from North America or a Eucalyptus from the southern hemisphere.

However these woodland gardens were lost back to nature during the world war periods and became re-populated with native plants and species once again...but work has been ongoing at Robin Hill to reclaim the glades, ponds and paths that once existed since 2005, which you will now see when you visit. A number of new plantings and features have been added to add interest and now the woodland in their own rights are a popular destination for visitors.

Spring and autumn are the best times to visit if you want to see dazzling natural colour... from the stunning blues and pinks of spring bluebells and rhododendrons to the dazzling red and gold of our trees in October.

Other garden features include...

Sympathetically planted woodland glades & paths linked to the Islands' own history and culture, from Henry VIII and to Queen Victoria. See our Roman themed garden and our Chimney sweep glade full of tree ferns ...that tells the story of Valentine Gray, a local boy who was murdered in the 19th Century by his wicked employer.

The Driftwood Dome, filled with beautiful driftwood sculptures carved by Mother Nature's own hands, with aromatic and interesting plants for a real sensory experience of sight, touch and smell. This 15m green house is a popular destination for visitors who enjoy its warmth in the cooler days of early spring and autumn.

Word Record Tree Sculpture

The tree sculpture was carved in the summer of 2009 by nationally renowned chainsaw artist Paul Sivell. It is recognised as the tallest one of its type in the world. The tree was carved in a standing position and was fully scaffolded for safety as work took place.

Other taller tree carvings exist (totem poles etc) but these are all carved with the tree trunks lying on the ground, which are then stood back up once carving is complete. Carving a standing tree is far more skilled and difficult to do with the added dangers of working at great height with dangerous machinery.

Taking only 20 days to complete, Paul worked with several assistants to carve the 19m (57ft) sweet chestnut tree with only chisels and chainsaws. The tree had died the previous year and was due to be felled before it was decided that a record breaking sculpture could be created.

Research shows that our sculpture is 30cm taller (1ft) than the previous record holder that stands in Southern Chile. The carvings represent a fascinating time-line of local history starting from 2000 years ago at the bottom to the 21st Century at the top, with many historic points in between.

Butterfly garden

Another fascinating feature is Robin Hill’s new butterfly garden, which had attracted much acclaim with over 20 known species of butterfly being recorded there in 2009...click here to find out more details on our nature & history page. You can’t fail to be impressed on a sunny June afternoon in this garden!