Abbey Park
Details
Wildlife Highlights
This is a park with many different habitats, including the River Soar and several lakes. There are many mature trees, ornamental planting areas and interspersed less managed areas. The outer walls of the park provide sheltered sun spots and are good places to find insects. Bees are attracted to the nectar-rich flower plantings and there are always water birds to be seen on the river. There is a good range of fungi to be found particularly in the autumn.
Description
Abbey Park is Leicester’s premier park and lies approximately one mile north of the City centre. The River Soar divides this beautiful park into two distinct areas: to the east of the river lies the highly decorative Victorian part of the park with its evergreen shrubberies, trees, lakes and formally planted flower displays and to the west of the river lies the fascinating Abbey Grounds. Within this area are the remains of the twelfth century Leicester Abbey and the ruins of Cavendish House, a seventeenth century mansion.
Latest Records
| Common Name | Latin Name | Date Recorded | Recorded By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mute Swan | Cygnus olor | 09/06/2011 | HAPeacock |
| Coot | Fulica atra | 09/06/2011 | HAPeacock |
| Limnephilus lunatus | 09/06/2011 | HAPeacock | |
| Large Rose Sawfly | Arge pagana | 20/05/2011 | David Nicholls |
| Tree Bumblebee | Bombus hypnorum | 20/05/2011 | David Nicholls |
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | 20/05/2011 | David Nicholls |
| Spear Thistle | Cirsium vulgare | 20/05/2011 | David Nicholls |
| 7 Spot Ladybird | Coccinella septempunctata | 20/05/2011 | David Nicholls |
| Epistrophe eligans | 20/05/2011 | David Nicholls | |
| Harlequin Ladybird | Harmonia axyridis | 20/05/2011 | David Nicholls |
| Wall Barley | Hordeum murinum | 20/05/2011 | David Nicholls |
| Oxeye Daisy | Leucanthemum vulgare | 20/05/2011 | David Nicholls |
| Black-horned Gem | Microchrysa polita | 20/05/2011 | David Nicholls |
| Nettle Aphid | Microlophium carnosum | 20/05/2011 | David Nicholls |
| Myathropa florea | 20/05/2011 | David Nicholls | |
Getting There
The park lies about a mile from Leicester city centre, along St Margaret's Way. There are several entrances but the main access is off Abbey Park Road. There is a car park near to Pet's Corner, on Abbey Park Road neat to the junction with St. Margaret's Road.
