How to Country Parks contact us Get in touch! For more information T: 0116 305 5000 about this or any other E: countryparks@ Volunteers Country Park, including leics.gov.uk A wide range of country parks, woodlands and other car park charges, W: www.leics.gov.uk/ open spaces throughout the county are managed by opening times, season countryparks County Council. However, with over tickets, events and group 400 hectares of land to look after, visits please contact us. we need your help! A52 Country Parks volunteers Get are a diverse group of involved! people who get together M1 If you would like to get fit, help on a regular basis to local wildlife, learn new skills carry out conservation and maybe make some new friends, why not come along to J24 tasks. our volunteer days? A453 J23a A607 Get in touch A6 A number of volunteer How to find us A606 groups work throughout the to find out how! A42 A6006 Meltoncounty undertaking a wide Ashby de la A512 J23 Mowbrayvariety of practical tasks. Zouch A46 M1 These include hedge laying, surveying, A6 A607 A606 A42 A5110 working on heathlands, woodlands THE NATIONAL FOREST and grasslands, J22 A50 and general estate management. M42 LEICESTERSHIREA447

A47 Market J21a Your guide to A444 Bosworth A47 J21 A563 WE ARE Market HERE M69 Blaby A6

Hinckley J2 A426 Bosworth A5199 J1 We are located on the eastern edge of the traditional M69 M1 market town of Market Bosworth,A5 fourteen miles Market Country Harborough west of Leicester. A4304 J20 The car park can be found off The Park (B585), Park CV13 0LP. Grid ref SK 41122 03193. M6 J19

Designed and printed by Leicestershire County Council. Tel: 0116 305 6128. Designed and printed by Leicestershire County Council. Tel: M1

Things to do The wide open grassland of the park provides a place for ball games, and other sports and activities. Visitors can relax in the parkland or enjoy a picnic under the shade of a large oak tree. Explore more of the park and follow the paths that lead to the play area, woodlands and beyond, as well as the Bow Pool where children love to feed the ducks.

History Visitor The park and surrounding estate has a rich history going back to the 11th century. Amongst others, Richard Harcourt, who fought alongside Henry VII Information in the Battle of Bosworth, and Sir Wolstan Dixie, Market Bosworth Country Park extends over a former Lord Mayor of London, both had a hand an area of 35 hectares and includes historic in its development. parkland, fine mature trees, wildflower meadows, rough grassland and an arboretum. In 1680 the building of Bosworth Hall, which overlooks the parkland, was completed. At this The car park offers easy access to the park. time three ponds and the Bow Pool were formed. Please see website for current charge. The name of Bow was a reference to Sir Beaumont Regular visitors can buy an annual car parking Dixie who was Lord of the Manor at that time. season ticket, which can also be used at other During the late 18th century, Leicestershire County Council country parks. the park was landscaped Getting around in the style of the designer Market Bosworth Country Park is ideally located Capability Brown with a as a starting base to explore the wider area on foot mix of small woods and and by bicycle. The park sits on the edge of Market fine individual trees. Bosworth town where there are many shops and Why walking The park came under a cafes for those who want to make a full day trip. succession of owners and A network of paths connects the park to Bosworth is good for you became more fragmented. Battlefield Visitor Centre, Country Park and cafe, as Walking is a great way to help beat stress, improve Leicestershire County Council well as wider circular walks and cycle routes through your health, boost your immune system and burn bought the country park in two the surrounding villages and countryside. calories, so try to keep active 5 times a week for stages in 1970 and 1974. 30 minutes. Parkland Once a deer park, this distinct and increasingly rare parkland landscape contains many stately mature trees, Park Gateway and Circular Walk such as English oak and lime. It is in Market Bosworth fact one of only a few parks in the area Here is your starting point to explore Market Bosworth that exhibit such magnificent trees. Country Park. Features include a large parking area, An avenue of mature sycamores lines an eco-toilet block, nature pond, bicycle rack and the northern edge of the parkland and information point. Follow this route past the Bow Pool horse chestnuts near the Bow Pool and arboretum to take in the best features of the park. Country Park provide conkers in the autumn. Circular Walking Distance Surface Walk Time Children’s Play Area 2.5 miles Mainly 45 mins Rebuilt in 2014, the play area (4 km) gravel with is constructed from timber some grass grown in sustainable managed forests and it is sponsored by local company JJ Churchill Ltd. The climbing frames, slide and swings are suitable for toddlers to 12 year olds and there are stiles into the nearby wooded areas.

Weather Station Bow Pool and Stew Ponds Pond and Parkland Nature Area Popular with families and featuring a historic boathouse, the Bow Pool Cycle Rack Farmland was once a boating lake back in the 1960s, whilst the stew ponds were Play Area Wildflower Meadow used by the local church for stocking fish. Nowadays they are home to Bird Feeding Overflow Car Park a vast array of wildlife such as Woodland Plantations Station kingfishers, dragonflies, grass snakes and great crested newts. In the 1990s, 6 small woodlands, including a fruit and nut wood, were planted with native species. The woodlands were created using Visitor Code donations from local people and grants from the Forestry Commission. Help us to keep the Country The copses continue to flourish with species such as beech, ash, oak, Park safe and enjoyable for rowan and hazel. all visitors by respecting our Visitor Code. Please: • Keep dogs under strict control at all times • Clean up after your dog and Wildflower Meadow use the bins provided Created in 1998 with the help Arboretum of the Market Bosworth Natural • Take your litter home, History Society, the meadow is and recycle where possible This arboretum of exotic and native planted solely with native species. trees has been taking shape since Look out for ragged robin, devils • Do not swim, or allow your dog to the 1970s. Look out for the towering bit scabious and common spotted swim, in the lakes or ponds coast and dawn redwoods, Japanese orchids, as well as numerous and European oaks, swamp cypress butterflies, bees and grasshoppers. • Do not light open fires as well as many variations of European and Japanese maple. • Do not pick flowers Don’t miss the carpets of snowdrops, wood anemones and bluebells in the spring and the splendid displays of colour during the autumn.