The Natural Environment

Leicestershire has a beautiful and diverse range of country parks, woodlands, nature reserves rich in wildlife, trails and picnic areas. The county offers spectacular scenery and views and has many varied landscapes to discover including: hill forts and heritage sites of geological and archaeological interest, the rocky outcrops of Charnwood Forest, peaceful river valleys and canals, National Forest woodlands and industrial heritage sites.

Our open spaces offer an abundance of fun and interesting activities for everyone. Whether you're a cyclist, walker, horse rider, angler, interested in nature watching, conservation, or simply want to explore the 'great outdoors' Leicestershire has much to offer - find out more from the links below.

Ecology The county has a diverse range of habitats for plants, mammals, birds and insects. The Ecology team advises on Wildlife Laws and Wildlife Recording and how to conserve or enhance biodiversity. See Ecology for more details.	Conservation Find out what we are doing to help preserve Leicestershire's beautiful countryside, towns and villages including Biodiversity Action Plans and our links with the National Biodiversity Network, the Nature Conservation Forum and Tree Preservation Orders. See Conservation for more information.
Geology Leicestershire and Rutland have some of the oldest and youngest rocks in the UK. You can find out about Leicestershire's Regionally Important Geological Sites here. See Geology for more details.	Countryside Enjoy and explore Leicestershire's beautiful countryside! Leicestershire boasts lots of outdoor activities and venues for the whole family to enjoy. Whether visiting Country Parks, going Walking, Cycling or Horseriding, Leicestershire's Countryside is the place to go! See Countryside for more information.
Heritage Wardens The Heritage Warden network is made up of volunteers who help monitor and conserve the rich heritage of Leicestershire & Rutland’s countryside and landscape. Here you can read the latest Branchline Newsletter, Meet Heritage Wardens, arrange Training, and order Warden Resources. See Heritage Wardens to get involved!.	Trees, Forests and Woodlands Find out more about Charnwood forest, the New Forest, the Free Trees Scheme and Tree Management in the county. See Trees, Forests and Woodlands for more details.
Partnership for Environmental Protection The group was set up to bring local authorities, agencies and the voluntary sector together to discuss environmental issues. See Partnership for Environmental Protection for more details.	Stepping Stones The Stepping Stones partnership project aims to improve greenspace and make high quality Green Infrastructure available to all through Grants, Training, an Award Scheme for Schools and much more! See Stepping Stones for more information.
Environmental Resources Centre at Holly Hayes The Resources Centre houses a unique databank of information on plants, animals and the habitats where they are found in Leicestershire and Rutland. The Centre acts as a Wildlife Information Service and runs a range of wildlife and countryside surveys. See the Environmental Resource Centre for more details.	The Community Heritage Initiative The Community Heritage Initiative (CHI) was a five year programme to help local residents, of all ages, learn about, appreciate, explore and conserve the area’s natural and wider heritage. Read about the Projects or find Information here. See the Community Heritage Initiative for more information.
HNE Team Information The Historic and Natural Environment Team was created to make local heritage information more accessible to many more people. They also have dedicated links with local communities, groups and individuals across the county. See HNE Team Information for more details.	Archaeology Leicestershire has many archaeology interests including: Community Archaeology, Planning Archaeology, the Historic Environment Record and Historic Landscape Characterisation. See Archaeology for more details.