Parks and Open Spaces

Bouskell Park car park will be closed from Monday 7 October until early 2025 to allow for resurfacing. Improvements will include clearly marked bays, including two accessible parking spaces, low level lighting and a durable, stable new surface. Pedestrian access to the park will remain available at all times during the upgrade. Anyone requiring alternative car parking is urged to use the Johns Court and Enderby Road car parks which are close by in Blaby centre.

We have a wide range of fantastic green spaces providing the opportunity for an enjoyable walk, a family day out and to keep in touch with nature.

All of our parks are free to use 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

Park opening and closing times:

1 November to 31 March open 7am till 4.30pm 
1 April to 31 October open 7am till 8.30pm

See below a description of each park. You can download a leaflet with more information and a map of these open spaces in the downloads section at the bottom of the page.

Crow Mills Way, Wigston

The paths here allow a circular walk with elevated views over South Leicestershire. This walk runs along a disused railway line through beautiful woodland adjacent to the Grand Union Canal and River Sence.

There is a car park adjacent to the site.

Fosse Meadows, Sharnford

Fosse Meadows has extensive paths through flower meadows and woodlands. It is a good area for bird spotting, with a wildlife lake and bird hides and a riverside walk that leads on to a wildlife pond.

There is a permissive bridleway around the site marked by white topped posts. Fosse Meadows also has a permanent orienteering course. There is a children’s play area with extensive play equipment which leads on to the play trail along the arboretum path.

A car park, picnic area, dog bins and two wheelchair friendly gates and an accessible toilet are available on site. There is a good network of public footpaths which cross Fosse Meadows and lead on to Claybrooke Magna (pub The Pig In Muck), Sharnford (pubs The Countryman and The Blue Bell) and Frolesworth.

Jubilee Park, 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. Please note that Jubilee Park is also a flood plain, and as a result it can get very muddy.

The Osiers, Braunstone Town

The hard-surfaced path leads through mature woodland into meadows. The Osiers also has a stream and pond.

This site can be accessed from Watergate Lane, The Hilton Hotel and Narborough Road South leading to the entrance to the Lubbesthorpe Road. An outdoor gym is also available.

Bouskell Park, Blaby

One of the most popular parks in the district, this site is set on the remains of a medieval village and is old Victorian parkland with a pond and an ice house. A small car park with information boards, hard-surfaced paths and dog bins and easy access for wheelchairs feature on the site.

Bouskell Park car park will be closed from Monday 7 October until early 2025 to allow for resurfacing. Improvements will include clearly marked bays, including two accessible parking spaces, low level lighting and a durable, stable new surface. Pedestrian access to the park will remain available at all times during the upgrade. Anyone requiring alternative car parking is urged to use the Johns Court and Enderby Road car parks which are close by in Blaby centre. 

Whetstone Way

This walk is made up of two small sections of a disused railway line. The south section can be accessed from Warwick Road, Spinney Holt, Avon Drive and Enderby Road. The north section access is via Station Street. There is a picnic site with views to the three arch bridge near Littlethorpe Road. This is an attractive place for wildlife in the summer.

Whistle Way, Narborough and Enderby

This walkway is along a disused mineral railway line which was used for hauling granite from the quarry at Enderby. There are good views to the River Soar and Whistle Meadows. This is an attractive place for wildlife in the summer.

There are various entry points for this walk which starts from Coventry Road in Narborough and ends in Seine Lane in Enderby.

Access points in Enderby:

  • Forest Road
  • Seine Lane
  • Coleridge Drive

Access points in Narborough:

  • Huncote Road
  • Copt Oak Road
  • Pimpernel Close
  • Speedwell Close
  • Snowdrop Close
  • Thornborough Close
Glen Parva Nature Reserve

A Green Flag award-winning site with walks over the fields and alongside the Grand Union Canal.

The path through this area is part of the Sustrans cycle route and links up with the Great Central Way and Aylestone Holt Spinney. This site is ideal for picnics in the summer.

Alternative access to the site is via Needham Avenue and Parsons Drive. Parking and access are available at Glen Parva Parish Council offices.

Other Parks

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 Nature Area on Google Maps

Gynsills Meadow, Stelle Way, Glenfield

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

Gynsills Meadow Area on Google Maps 

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 from Cosby Parish Council.

Burbage Common and Woods, Smithy Lane Burbage Common Road

Ancient woodland and unspoilt meadows. For further information contact the Visitors Centre on 01455 633712.

Croft Glebe, Croft

Community Woodland managed by the Woodland Trust.

Forest East Park, Leicester Forest East

It has a wildflower meadow and native trees. For further information contact Leicester Forest East Parish Council.

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.

Volunteering

We also run a Volunteer Ranger scheme where you can get involved in a range of exciting activities on our sites. Please visit the Volunteering page for more information.

Green Space Strategy 2012

Our Green Space Strategy helps to make the best use of our resources and meet the needs of local residents. It will inform planning policy and enable the council to protect and enhance green spaces. You can download the strategy below.

Downloads
Last updated 8 October 2024
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