Information on Loughborough

THE Outwoods is an asset to Loughborough and Charnwood Borough Council

Posted on 01/08/2008
P. Klein

GREEN WITH PRIDE! Cllr David Snartt, the chairperson of the Outwoods Management Committee, Cllr Stephen Campbell, the Mayor of Charnwood, Cllr Brenda Seaton, the Mayoress, Corrina Taylor, Charnwood Borough Council’s Park Warden, and Stuart Freeman from D M Chainsaws, who produced the charcoal.

THE Outwoods is an asset to Loughborough and Charnwood Borough Council, according to Green Flag judges.

It is the second year the popular beauty spot on the outskirts of Loughborough has been awarded a Green Flag – which is the park and open spaces equivalent of the Blue Flag that is handed to clean beaches across the country.

The Outwoods where gifted to the people of Loughborough in 1946 by two local benefactors, Allan Moss and George Harry Bowler and have remained a much-loved beauty spot attracting thousands of visitors every year.

To ensure it continued to meet the high standards set by the Green Flag judges, the Outwoods Management Committee has agreed to purchase a Tramper, an all-terrain mobility scooter which will give better access to people with disabilities.

A new picnic area has also been put in place while improvements have been made to signage and pathways.

The Green Flag was unveiled at the Outwoods on Tuesday (29 July 2009) and the judges were clearly impressed by the 45-acre site of Special Scientific Interest (SSI).

In a report, the judges wrote: “There are good partnership arrangements with various stakeholders who contribute to site management.

“Volunteers make a significant contribution to ecological monitoring and the positive volunteering programme appeals to all age ranges and are of educational value.

“There are a good range of events and guided walks and the on-site staff are friendly and welcoming,

“The Outwoods is an asset to Loughborough and Charnwood Borough Council.”

Cllr David Snartt (Conservative councillor for Forest Bradgate), the chairperson of the Outwoods Management Committee, was delighted to see Green Flag status had been retained

He said: “Following on from the success of last year, the Outwoods has continued to demonstrate that the facilities offered are of the highest standard.

“Recognising the comments from the judges last year, we have improved in the areas they recommended, especially facilities for the disabled in the form of the new picnic area and the proposed trampers to make the Outwoods accessible in the near future.

“The judges seemed particularly interested in the charcoal making, which has been a great success and of interest to many visitors to the Outwoods.

“Although the Management Committee has made significant improvements to the Outwoods, including signage and pathways, our overall vision is still to maintain the wood in its natural state so that it can be enjoyed by the residents of Charnwood for years to come.”

Cllr Peter Lewis (Conservative councillor for Loughborough Nanpantan), Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Leisure, added “The Outwoods has more than maintained the high standard set last year. In particular, they way in which the Borough has responded to improve disabled access puts us way ahead of many other places in the country.

“Our Warden and the Outwoods Management Committee, led with infectious enthusiasm by Cllr David Snartt, are to be warmly thanked and congratulated.”

Attractions available at the Outwoods include two signed walks, a short 1.3 km walk and a longer 3 km walk, a leaflet which accompanies these walks is available from the Outwoods car park.

The Outwoods is open all year round. The car park and toilets are open from approximately 7am until the following closing times:

  • January 4.00pm
  • February 5.00pm
  • March 6.00pm
  • April 8.00pm
  • May 8.30pm
  • June/July/August 9.00 pm
  • September 7.30pm
  • October 6.30pm
  • November/December 4.00 pm