Bradgate Park

Bradgate Park
Picture of Old John Tower and the War memorial, at the top of the hill, above jagged rocks.
Rocks, Old John and the War Memorial
Bradgate Park is 6 miles (10 kilometres) northwest of Leicester
Bradgate Park is 6 miles (10 kilometres) northwest of Leicester
Bradgate Park
 Bradgate Park shown within Leicestershire
TypeMedieval Deer Park
LocationLeicestershire, UK
Nearest cityLeicester
OS gridSK529107
Coordinates52°41′30″N 1°13′17″W / 52.6917°N 1.2214°W / 52.6917; -1.2214
Area850 acres (340 ha)
Elevation75-80m to 212m[1] (c.250 - 700ft)
Created1500 (Public Park from 1928)
Operated byBradgate Park and Swithland Wood Charity (Registered Charity no. 521476, (popularly known as the Bradgate Park Trust)
Visitors900,000[2]
Openall year, 7.45 am to dusk
Websitewww.bradgatepark.org
Bradgate Park and surrounding villages
Reginald Grey Pedigree of Grey of Groby displayed within Bradgate Hall ruins.

Bradgate Park (/ˌbrædɡət/) is a public park in Charnwood Forest, in Leicestershire, England, northwest of Leicester. It covers 850 acres (340 hectares). The park lies between the villages of Newtown Linford, Anstey, Cropston, Woodhouse Eaves and Swithland. The River Lin runs through the park, flowing into Cropston Reservoir which was constructed on part of the park. To the north-east lies Swithland Wood. The park's two well known landmarks, Old John and the war memorial, both lie just above the 210 m (690 ft) contour.[3] The park is part of the 399.3 hectare Bradgate Park and Cropston Reservoir Site of Special Scientific Interest, which has been designated under both biological and geological criteria.[4][5]

Following a fire in April 2017, the owners Bradgate Trust advised that all visitors are expected to be alert to the risk of causing fire,[6] though another fire in June destroyed one of the ancient oaks.[7]

  1. ^ plus trig. point, war memorial and/or Old John folly (or resultant cairns).
  2. ^ Bradgate Park Trust website Retrieved 13 April 2012
  3. ^ Ordnance Survey Landranger maps 129 and 140
  4. ^ "Designated Sites View: Bradgate Park and Cropston Reservoir". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Map of Bradgate Park and Cropston Reservoir". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  6. ^ "'Cigarette' fire devastates Bradgate Park in Leicestershire". BBC News. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  7. ^ Ciarafagan (20 June 2017). "Anger as 200-year-old tree is felled after a barbeque fire". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 21 June 2017.[permanent dead link]