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Evington Park and Arboretum


Location Plans

Permanent Orienteering Courses available in Evington Park and Arboretum

View details of these and other Permanent Orienteering Courses





Evington Park

Only two miles away from Leicester City Centre and backing onto the General Hospital, Evington Park has the tranquil atmosphere of the country estate it once was. The 44 acres of parkland include attractive floral displays and a wide variety of trees some scattered singly and some in copses. There are gardens, ponds and play and picnic areas. The park has fine examples of English oak and chestnut, rare Gingko trees and mature beech trees. In the spring, the rhododendron and azalea beds surrounded by fragrant shrubs are a delight. The black mulberry at Evington Park was planted in 1836, the year the house was built. We have mapped and used this area for many years in conjunction with Evington Arboretum off Shady Lane and both have permanent orienteering courses.


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Evington Arboretum

The entrance to this area used to lead into the encampment of the 504th Parachute Regiment of the US 52nd Airborne Division which was later converted into a POW camp.


The Arboretum was established by Leicester City Council in 1970 saving the area from possible development and securing its future as a public open space. Between 1970 and 1973 hundreds of trees were planted, many donated by organisations and members of the public. The trees weren't just stuck in the ground willy-nilly. They were planted in family groups. For example, in the south west corner, near the Evington Brook, you will find poplars and willows. In all 500 species of trees are to be found. Consideration was given to preserving certain views across the site, such as the north towards St Denys' Church, and west towards the university.


The former meadow below St Denys' Church is now a designated area for memorial tree planting. These trees are chosen for their ornamental value and suitability to the site and are planted by the City Council.


The Arboretum is a haven for birdlife. Kingfishers and the odd heron can occasionally be seen along Evington brook. Blue tits, great tits, marsh tits, coal tits, green woodpeckers, blackbirds, owls, robins, wrens and thrushes are often to be seen together with many other species.


Our map of the area includes Evington Park and the areas between them. This involves some road crossing but Piggies Hollow is a complex overgrown area with a number of paths and leads into a strip of mature woodland before the village itself has to be negotiated. The Arboretum has a permanent orienteering course.


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