A 10 hectare wildlife haven in the National Forest, home to native trees as well as trees from all around the world
Accessible paths
Benches
Car parking
Disabled car park
Facilities
- Disabled toilets
- Dogs welcome
Find us
Sarah’s Wood can be found off Rawdon Road, Moira, DE12 6GA.
Opening times
All our parks are open every day.
April-September (Daily) 9.00am - 7.00pm
October-March (Daily) 9.00am - 4.00pm
There is a free car park open daily from 9am – 4pm. There is a 2m height restriction at the entrance.
What to see and do at Sarah's Wood
Activities
The park was originally designed to provide an accessible woodland for all. All paths are hard surfaced, and form a series of loops around the site. Gradients are quite gentle, easy for motorised wheelchairs, but the steeper sections may be difficult for manual wheelchairs and push chairs. Benches are located at points along the trails for resting.
There is also a playground for youngsters to enjoy, and gravel paths to explore further in the woods.
Nature
Sarah’s Wood is an attractive woodland and wildlife haven, comprising of native broadleaf trees, hedgerows and a hay meadow. Memorial trees to Mahatma Gandhi and Anne Frank are planted in the Gandhi Goodwill Grove.
Sarah’s Wood lies next to the restored Ashby Canal, and a footbridge provides access over the canal to the Conkers Waterside Visitor Centre.
History
The woodland was given its name as a result of a competition run by the Leicester Mercury newspaper. The winning name was chosen in recognition of the support that Sarah Louise Goudie, a five year old child suffering from cerebral palsy, had given to the SOS woodland appeal. In October 1995, the park was officially named ‘Sarah’s Wood’ in her honour. SOS Member Alan Titchmarsh planted the first trees in the new woodland.
Archaeological finds, including an Iron Age grinding stone (or quern) and a prehistoric axe handle, show that there has been farming across the area since the Iron Age.