5-23 Carisbrooke Road Leicester LE2 3TQ

Activities at the Arboretum

Wild Play Summer 2023 - Leicester and Rutland Wildlife Trust

The LRWT have been holding outdoor nature events for children at the Attenborough Arboretum for many years.

To browse the current list of activities scheduled here this summer please click on the link below.

The Attenborough Arboretum Volunteer Programme

A friendly group of volunteers meet most Thursday mornings during the year to tackle various tasks around the arboretum.

If this is something that may interest you please click on the link below.

September - Anyone for for a game of conkers?

Did you know that the first game of conkers to be recorded was in 1848 on the Isle of Wight.

The rules for playing conkers are really simple. A conker is threaded onto a knotted string and each player takes a turn at striking the other player's conker until one of them is destroyed.

Here are some interesting links to follow. Then, when your all fired up, head down to the arboretum to get your ammunition. Our old Horse Chestnut trees having been raining down big beautiful conkers for the last week.

Another free fun family activity

Try your hand at Willow Weaving

Nobody can have failed to notice our beautiful living willow tunnel that was planted out in March of this year (2023).

It is absolutely thriving now and growing weekly. To be a success all living willow structures need to be regularly woven, as the new growth comes and before it loses it's pliability and turns to hard wood.

Please do try your hand at weaving the willow. It would be a great help and is a relaxing and simple activity that both adults and children can enjoy. The willow structure is there for your education and entertainment.

Weaving is easy. Simply weave the long pliant new growth back into the existing framework in an in-and-out criss-cross fashion and an upward direction. A short instructional video is available here.

Happy Weaving