Castle Hill Country Park, Leicester
Selected Wild Place / Other Wild Places / Public Rights of Way / VC55 boundary
Castle Hill Country Park (Leicester City Council website)
Total species seen at this site:
The park was established in 1985 and comprises of approximately 104 ha of mainly improved grassland and plantation woodland which are located between Beaumont Leys and the village of Anstey. The A46 Western Bypass divides the park into two linear sections with the Rothley Brook forming the western boundary.
The park contains some relic features of an historic landscape with species-rich hedgerows, fine specimens of mature Oak, Ash, Willow and Black poplar. Small areas of more mature broadleaf woodland such as Bluebell Wood support a rich ground flora.
The remnant earth banks, ditches and hedgerows associated with the historic parish/park boundary which separate Beaumont Leys, Anstey and Thurcaston are rich in trees, shrubs and wildflowers – such as Gorse Hill.
New and more established areas of meadow have been created at the Olympic Meadow in 2012 and Gorse Hill respectively whilst the series of ponds to the west side of the park run adjacent to the Rothley Brook. These provide havens for amphibians and contain good populations of common frog, toad and smooth newt. The ponds were recently further enhanced by a partnership project with Froglife and the City council.
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