Countryside Reacreation Areas

Blaby District Council's Countryside Officer oversees the management of 10 Countryside Recreation Areas. These sites are great for walking, birdwatching, picnics or just relaxing in.

The Countryside Officer can be contacted on 0116 272 7699 and also co-ordinates the Volunteer Rangers and the Guided Walks programme.

Admission to these sites is free and everyone is welcome, enjoy your visit but please remember

respect the wildlife that lives there
keep your dog under close control
take only photographs
leave only footprints

Bouskell Park, Welford Road, Blaby

This site is set on the remains of a medieval village and is old Victorian parkland with a pond and an ice house. There is a small car park, interpretation boards, hard surfaced paths and dog bins and easy access for wheelchairs.

Crow Mills Way, Countesthorpe Road, Wigston

Hard surfaced paths follow a circular walk along a disused railway line through woodland with one wheelchair friendly gate.

Fosse Meadows Nature Area, Fosse Way, Nr Sharnford

This site has extensive paths through flower meadows and newly planted woodlands. It is a good area for birdspotting, with a new wildlife lake and bird hide. There is a permissive bridleway around the site marked by white topped posts. The site also has a perminent orienteering course. (Maps are available from the Countryside Officer). There is a car park, picnic area and dog bins and two wheelchair friendly gates.

Glen Hills Nature Area, Glen Parva

Wander through flower meadows down to the banks of the Grand Union Canal or use the Guthlaxton Cycle Trail which runs through the site.

Gynsills Nature Area, Stelle Way, Glenfield

This small site has mature trees and a pond which once formed part of the Gynsills Estate parkland. There is a small meadow area as well with grass tracks through the wooded area.

Gynsills Meadow, Stelle Way, Glenfield

On the other side of Stelle Way is a site which is mainly meadow with a planted woodland in one corner and grass paths running around the whole site.

Jubilee Park, Blaby Road, Enderby

This riverside site was opened to commemorate the Queen's Silver Jubilee. There is a small car park and dog bins.The site has a wheelchair friendly gate but there is no hard surface around the site and as it is a flood plain it can get very muddy.

Osiers Nature Area, Watergate Lane, Lubbesthorpe

The hard surfaced path leads through mature woodland into meadows. There is a stream and pond.

Whetstone Way, Whetstone

Two sections of disused railway now have a path way along them with wildlife in abundance.

Whistle Way, Narborough/Enderby

This hard surfaced path follows a disused mineral railway line from Narborough to Enderby.

For a leaflet on all these sites please call the Community Development Team on 0116 272 7703

There are other sites in the area which are not owned by Blaby District Council some of which are listed below.

Blaby Oaks, Hospital Lane, Blaby

A Community Wood managed by the Woodland Trust

Bramble Walk, Countesthorpe Road/Lutterworth Road

A linear walkway along a flowery disused railway. Further information available fromCosby Parish Council on 0116284 9716.

Burbage Common & Woods, Smithy Lane/Burbage Common Road

Ancient woodland and unspoilt meadows. For further information contact the Visitors Centres on 01455 633 712

Croft Glebe, Croft

Community Woodland managed by the Woodland Trust.

Forest East Park, Leicester Forest East

It has a wild flower meadow and native trees. For furthe information contact Leicester Forest East Parish Council on 0116 239 2198.

Guthlaxton Cycle Trail

This is part of the National Cycle Network. The signed route from Derby to Oxford runs through Glen Parva, Blaby and Countesthorpe. A trail map is available from Blaby District Council cashiers.

Wistow Country Park

A picnic area beside a garden centre with refreshments and toilet facilities. For further information contact Wistow Garden Centre and Model Village on 0116 259 2009