Shady Lane Arboretum
Selected Wild Place / Other Wild Places / Public Rights of Way / VC55 boundary
The Arboretum is located 2.5 miles from the city centre, just south of Evington village. A small car park is located off Shady Lane near the corner with Gartree Road.
Total species seen at this site:
The arboretum was established in 1970 by Leicester City Council. The area covers 10.5 hectares and is open to the public. Between 1970 and 1973 over 500 tree specimens were planted, mostly in taxonomic family groups. Memorial trees continue to be planted on the site. The site is bisected by the Evington Brook and St. Denys Church borders the northern boundary. Piggy's Hollow, the site of a demolished manor house, adjoins the Areboretum in the north east corner.
As you would expect there are many specimen trees from all over the world. A few are labelled but most are not leaving an identification challenge for those interested in knowing which tree is which. Whilst most trees are not native the wooded nature of the site attracts many birds and invertebrates, enhanced by the brook and rough grassland areas. Jays hide in the tree canopies whilst Grey Wagtails can be seen by the brook. There are many galls to be found on the many trees species.
A number of ponds have been created and areas allowed to grow wild adjacent to the brook and woodland areas which help to support wildlife.
The records and images below may include those from adjacent sites if the grid reference submitted with these records overlaps the boundary of this Wild Place.
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
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