Green spaces in leicester

Despite being one of the largest cities in the Midlands, Leicester is incredibly well provided for with beautiful green spaces. There are 190 parks, gardens and open spaces in the city itself, which includes 10 main parks and 2 country parks! Come and explore them with us and find out how the city keeps them clean and tidy!

One of the jewels of the crown of the city is Abbey Park, a city centre retreat that will make you forget you are just ten minutes walk from the main shopping drag. With riverside walks, ornamental gardens, a lake, pets corner, a mini railway and the ruins of Leicester’s historic Abbey (rumoured to be the last resting place of Henry VIII’s advisor Cardinal Thomas Wolsey), Abbey Park is a favourite of both locals and visitors to the area.

Another hidden treasure is Castle Gardens. Found right by the River Soar and De Montfort University’s campus, this is an idyllic location. It used to be part of the city’s Castle and you can still climb the mound which looks out over the historic Newarke area and the 12^th century St Mary de Castro church.

Follow the River Soar to the south from Castle Gardens and you’ll soon come across Aylestone Meadows, a designated nature reserve. Alongside the Great Central Way (which is part of National Cycle Route 6), you can find a huge variety of wildlife here, from various species of birds to crayfish and snakes. There are also cows and horses to discover as you wander by the river and watch the canal boats pass.

South of the city and on the edge of Wigston is Knighton Park, a beautiful area that is the perfect place for dog walkers and families wanting to enjoy the wide open spaces. Come and explore the tree-lined routes, the spinney and sensory garden, then grab an ice cream or coffee from the coffee vendor. To the south and west of the city you can find Western Park and Braunstone Park, one of the largest green spaces in the city which is home to Winstanley House, a beautiful country house hotel and award winning restaurant dating from the 1700s.

Just to the north of the city is Watermead Park, which is a network of lakes and wetlands. Again, accessible from cycle route 6, you can explore the wooded paths and climate trail while seeing a huge variety of waterbirds and a Mammoth! This one isn’t real, but mammoth remains dating back to the last Ice Age were found when the site was being developed! It’s also one of the very best places in Leicester to see a stunning sunset (from the eastern shore of ‘Mammoth Lake’).

Castle Hill Country Park covers 250 acres of North Leicester and has fantastic views of the Charnwood Hills and Bradgate Park from the top of the earthworks which were once a Knights Hospitaller (Order of St John) Monastic Grange (confirmed by the BBC’s Digging for Britain team!) With its meadows and woodlands, this is a fantastic place for all kinds of wildlife, and is one of the best places in Leicester to come and see the spring bluebells!

The city is committed to helping wildlife and remaining biodiverse. The parks team has recently changed the way they manage their green spaces. While it used to be the case that areas were just mowed flat, now round 14% of the city’s grassland is classed as ‘pollination grassland’, meaning it is left ‘uncut’ for bees and other insects. If you look around and see a bright yellow bee sign, that means the long grass is managed intentionally so that pollinators can use it.

A team of environmental volunteers help to keep the city clean and green. With a major waterway, the River Soar, running right through Leicester and a lot of industry being on its banks, litter had become a real issue. The Council have a fleet of boats used by these volunteers to remove items from the waterways. They work in partnership with the Canal & River Trust, Leicestershire Wildlife Trust and the Trent River Trust to ensure our waterways remain clean and thriving.

Many of Leicester’s parks have recently had a ‘tree trail’ completed. These highlight historically notable trees and particular species of interest, whether it’s the Dawn Redwoods of Victoria Park or the Kentucky Coffee Tree in Abbey Park. Everything the budding arborealist needs! Take a look at all the tree trails here.