Barnwood was originally a small village on the Roman road that links Gloucester with Hucclecote, Brockworth and Cirencester.

It has with various habitats including grassland and wetland, and is set amongst a collection of mature native and exotic specimen trees.

The Friends of Barnwood Arboretum & Park organise events throughout the year to encourage local citizens to use the area in an educational manner.

[11] Samuel and Anne Bubb, who were grandparents of the inventor Sir Charles Wheatstone (1802–75), lived at Barnwood Manor House.

[12] Biographical notes of 1887 say that Sir Charles stated that he was born in the house and lived there as a young child, and this was the scene of some of his earliest experiments.