5.8
Wildland
1–2 hours
Time
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Cost
Peaceful
Feel
Why it's Wildland
5.8A Leicester green space with more than 500 tree species, wildflower grassland and a tucked-away medieval landscape at Piggy’s Hollow.
This is more than a planted collection of trees: the arboretum’s compartments include a brook valley, meadow, spinney and the earthworks of a medieval moated manor and fishponds. It offers a varied nature-and-history walk within the city.
Peaceful · Ancient-feeling
Find your way
Open mapShady Lane, Leicester, LE2 2FA
Opening map…
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The experience
Explore the arboretum’s different landscapes: tree-lined paths, wildflower grassland and the valley of Evington Brook. The longer Evington Park walk adds St Denys’ Church and a route through the arboretum.
Things to do
Explore the varied tree collection
Walk the developed system of gravel and grass paths and notice how the arboretum’s different sections change in character. The site contains more than 500 tree species.
Look for the medieval landscape at Piggy’s Hollow
The north-west part of the site is identified as the location of a former medieval moated manor house and associated fishponds. Look for the surviving earthworks and landscape features; do not assume every feature is visible from every path.
Walk through the brook valley and grassland
Notice the change from wooded sections to the sloping grassland and the valley of Evington Brook. The southern section includes meadow or rough-mown grass managed for species and wildflower diversity.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · About 1 hour; exact time not established for this suggested visit.
A short arboretum wander
- 01
Explore the arboretum’s paths and notice how the landscape changes between tree-covered areas, grassland and the brook valley.
- 02
If you reach Piggy’s Hollow, look for the earthworks associated with the former manor and fishponds.
- 03
Check current access and conditions before setting out.
Verified history
The Leicestershire and Rutland Gardens Trust describes Piggy’s Hollow as the site of a former medieval moated manor house and associated fishponds. The site was used by the military from 1942, became a prisoner-of-war camp from 1945 to 1947, and was later occupied by squatters. Gartree Riding School used it from 1948 through to the late 1960s. Leicester City Council established the arboretum in 1970. The source also describes visible medieval ridge-and-furrow cultivation at Church Field and dams associated with terracing and medieval fishponds. A possible Roman-era mill is mentioned as an unsubstantiated view, not established history.
Hidden details
The earthworks of Piggy’s Hollow — The north-west part of the arboretum is associated with the site of a medieval moated manor and fishponds. The Gardens Trust also describes tall hedgerows, ancient earthworks and mature pines in this enclosed section.
Ridge and furrow at Church Field — Medieval ridge-and-furrow cultivation is reported as still visible running north to south along Church Field.
A possible old mill: treat the claim cautiously — The Gardens Trust notes an unsubstantiated view that a mill may have stood here as far back as Roman times. This is not verified history.
When to go
· No source-backed time of day identified.
The arboretum includes wildflower grassland and a large tree collection, but the supplied sources do not give confirmed flowering or foliage peak dates.
The published Evington Park route notes that paths may be muddy after rain and can be soft, uneven and narrow. Check conditions before setting out.
What to look for
- 01
At Piggy’s Hollow, look for the earthworks associated with a former medieval moated manor and fishponds. Across the site, notice the contrast between the spinney, sloping grassland, memorial tree plantings and Evington Brook valley
- 02
medieval ridge-and-furrow cultivation is still visible at Church Field.
The story
Medieval manor and fishponds; later military use, a prisoner-of-war camp and riding school.
Best time to go
Spring and summer for wildflowers and leafy tree displays; autumn for changing foliage. Exact seasonal highlights are not specified in the supplied sources.
Spring and summer are promising for the wildflower grassland and leafy trees; autumn offers a different look at the tree collection. The supplied sources do not establish precise peak dates.
How long to spend
1–2 hours
Perfect for
Walkers · Wildlife lovers · Photographers · History lovers
Before you go
Address
Website
Listed hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
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Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
Described by the Leicestershire and Rutland Gardens Trust as an open public space. Check current access information before travelling.
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Parking
Parking details are not verified. Check before visiting.
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Toilets
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Food & drink
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Dogs
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Accessibility
A published route description warns that its walk includes soft, uneven and narrow paths, steps, and is not an accessible route. This does not establish accessibility across the whole arboretum; check before visiting.
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Cost
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Water
Stream
Gallery
Place photographs
Keep exploring
Around Shady Lane Arboretum
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
