Park Pale Wood

Park Pale Wood, a Tender Scheme winner from 2000,  covers nearly 28 ha near Ashby de la Zouch.  It takes its name from the remains of the Mediaeval pale (bank and ditch) that runs through the site, which formed part of the old hunting park, part of Calke Estate.  The open meadow by the dismantled railway is part of the Lount Meadows Sites of Special Scientific Interest.  It contains flowers of both dry meadow (common spotted orchid, devils' bit scabious) and of marshland (lady's smock, marsh thistle and brooklime).  The existing wet woodland at the northern end of the site is known as Black Ditches.  An area has been left to the south to allow natural extension of the woodland into the new plantation through natural regeneration.

New dedicated footpaths have been created throughout the site.