All of Christ Church’s gardens and Christ Church Meadow lie within the Grade 1 landscape included in the English Heritage Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England. The entry in this register reads
Overall the Christ Church designed landscape is of the highest significance, relating to its history, associations, as an early example of ornamental walks, quadrangles and garden spaces, and as the designed setting for an extensive group of Grade I buildings. For its early origin as ornamental college grounds, the survival of early fabric, its extent and association with internationally influential college members, the landscape is of international significance as recognised by its Grade I status on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
Only 9% of some 1600 sites in the UK are classified as Grade I and are deemed to be of exceptional interest. The landscape also forms the setting of several Grade 1 listed buildings and the entire site lies at the south of the Central (University and City) Conservation Area which extends to the east bank of Cherwell. It is also listed as a Nature Conservation Area within the Local Plan and lies within the Oxford Green Belt.
Click the thumbnail of the map for a larger version with the gardens, meadow and paths indicated.
