Protecting Bradgate Park & Swithland Wood

When visiting Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood, it’s important to follow a few simple rules to help protect the landscape, wildlife, and ensure everyone’s safety.

Most of Bradgate Park is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, as is the entirety of Swithland Wood. Damaging or removing natural, geological, or wildlife features within an SSSI is a criminal offence.

We have a range of byelaws, policies, and guidance in place. While we encourage visitors to explore and enjoy the park, some activities may require permission. Without this, you may be asked to stop or leave the site.

Conservation Area

Bradgate Park is home to a wide range of rare and locally significant wildlife, including important populations of ground-nesting birds.

Recent conservation efforts, such as bracken management, have helped bird numbers increase. However, this has also led to more informal footpaths (“desire lines”), which can disturb these sensitive habitats.

To help protect wildlife, a signposted conservation area has been established above the middle wall.

• Visitors are asked to stay on existing paths within this area
• Main routes remain open and accessible
• Choosing alternative routes helps reduce disturbance

Your support helps keep Bradgate Park a safe and special place for both people and wildlife.

Dogs

There are specific rules in place for dogs, supported by a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).

Please follow all on-site signage. Full details can be found on our dedicated Dogs page here.

Litter

Please help us keep the park clean by taking your rubbish home or by using the bins provided. Discarded items such as glass and cigarettes can cause fires and harm wildlife.

• Dispose of dog waste responsibly (bagged waste can go in general bins)
• Use recycling bins correctly

It costs the Trust around £100 per day to remove waste from the estate. Your help makes a real difference.

Lost Property

Lost something during your visit?

Items are often handed in to staff at the Café or Visitor Centre. We keep records of both lost and found items.

Please contact the Estate Office on 0116 236 2713 during office hours (Mon - Fri, 9 am to 4 pm) to check if your item has been handed in.

Cycling at Bradgate Park

Cycling is only permitted on the tarmac carriageway within Bradgate Park. Cycling is not permitted elsewhere in the park. Doing so is a breach of byelaws and may also be an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, with potential fines of up to £20,000.

• There is no legal right of way for cycling within Bradgate Park
• Please respect the sensitive and nationally important landscape

Further details on permitted routes and cycling guidance are available on our website.

Swithland Wood - Cycling is permitted only on clearly waymarked bridleways and permissive horse tracks. Maps are displayed at both car parks and within Swithland Wood their are posts indicating the paths.

Other wheeled activities
Roller skates, skateboards, and children’s scooters are permitted on the Carriageway only in Bradgate Park. Please be courteous to others and remember that pedestrians always have priority.

Canine Leisure Activities

Canicross is permitted in all areas.

Bikejoring (bikes & kickbikes) are permitted on the tarmac carriage only and must comply with Bradgate Park and Swithland Bye Laws. Within Swithland Wood, this is only permitted on bridleways.

We highly recommend staying away from Bradgate Park on busy days due to the high number of pedestrians walking along the carriageway. 

All users must be courteous to other park and route users and pick up after their dogs.

Canine Mushing Rigs are not permitted in any areas of Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood.

Horse Riding 

Horse riding is permitted on a network of waymarked permissive tracks (yellow markers) linking the main entrances at Newtown Linford, Hallgates (Cropston), and Hunts Hill.

• Access is via special horse gates at Newtown Linford and Hallgates, and a kissing gate at Hunts Hill
• Riding is allowed from 8:00 am until one hour before dusk
• Not permitted on Bank Holidays, or after 12:00 noon on weekends

Please note:

• Riding is restricted to designated tracks only (no galloping)
• Pedestrians always have priority
• Use is at your own risk

These routes are permissive (not public bridleways) and may be closed due to weather, ground conditions, misuse, or management needs.

Horse boxes can use Hallgates and Hunts Hill car parks (parking charge: £8).

Drones, Model Aircraft, Rockets & Metal Detectors

Strictly prohibited: Drones, powered model aircraft, rockets, metal detectors, or any unauthorised excavation.

Bradgate Park & Swithland Wood are SSSIs; damaging or disturbing protected features is a criminal offence under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, with fines up to £20,000.

Drones disturb breeding birds, wintering flocks, and deer, and may violate the privacy of visitors. Permission is generally not granted, especially during bird nesting season (March–August).

• Commercial drone use requires CAA approval and Trust permission. Only authorised, insured, licensed operators working for the Trust may fly drones.
• Requests for drone use: [email protected]
• Zero tolerance policy for metal detecting or unauthorised excavation; rare exceptions require a formal licence agreement.

Picnics at Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood

Please follow these simple guidelines when picnicking on a visit. To ensure everyone enjoys their visits, we ask that you bear in mind the following points:

• No cooking on site. Our Café offer a selection of hot and cold food.
  
  
• Using glassware - we ask that you use plastic cups and bottles where possible. Broken glass is a hazard to other visitors and wildlife and very difficult to remove from the natural landscape. 
  
  
• Playing ball games - ball games are permitted, but please consider other visitors.
  
  
• Playing loud music - please be considerate to other visitors.
  
  
• Releasing balloons - we ask you do not bring balloons into Bradgate Park, as when released they get caught up in the trees and are hard to remove. They can also be a hazard to the wildlife in the Park. Mass balloon releases are not permitted in for this reason.
  
  
• Please do not feed the deer.

Remember, before you leave, to collect all of your litter together to take with you. Please do not leave any items unattended at any time, both to protect your items from theft and also to prevent them causing a possible security alert/risk to wildlife. 

Above all, please be considerate, so other people can enjoy the sites too. 

Swimming and Bathing

Swimming or bathing is not permitted in rivers, ponds, or the flooded former slate quarries in Swithland Wood. The quarries are fenced for safety, and any unauthorised access constitutes trespass and may result in prosecution.

Feeding Wildlife

Visitors must not feed the deer under any circumstances. Feeding of ducks, geese, and swans is permitted only in small amounts, using suitable wildlife-friendly food available from the Visitor Centre. Bread or cooked food must not be provided, and feeding must not take place in car parks.

Scattering Ashes

When someone dies, you might want to scatter their ashes at Bradgate Park. The Trust regulates ash scatterings due to the impact this has on the environment and wildlife.

Anyone wishing to scatter ashes at Bradgate Park must contact the Estate Office in advance, either by telephone at 0116 236 2713 or by email at [email protected]. Ashes can only be scattered in a designated area with prior arrangement.

The person responsible must provide a copy of the Certificate of Cremation. Ashes should be scattered evenly, with consideration for other visitors and wildlife. Only flowers, either fresh or dried, with all non-biodegradable wrapping removed, may be left as a memento. 

Holding Events

No notification needed if you have fewer than 20 attendees and your event is Private (not advertised).

• No cooking, BBQs, music, charity collection, or infrastructure
• All litter must be cleared away and taken home

If any condition is not met, prior authorisation is required. Contact Estate Office: 0116 236 2713 or [email protected]

Disclaimer

Visitors use Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood at their own risk. The Trust accepts no liability for loss, damage, or injury on the Estate, facilities, or car parks.