It links older cycle routes such as the Great Central Way and Forest Way. To the north, Riverside Way takes you through a wealth of wildlife in an award-winning managed park and offers the chance to walk, cycle or take a river cruise from the Waterside Centre through the richest concentration of natural habitat in the city. New ponds and lakes have been created and a profusion of shrubs and trees planted. This is a demonstration centre to offer advice on making homes friendlier to the earth, and includes a show house, a large organic garden and a shop selling environmentally friendly goods. The house is open all day at weekends and in the afternoons Wednesday to Friday.
Admission is free and refreshments are available.
This all adds up to the most ambitious and comprehensive environmental initiative ever undertaken by a British city, and world recognition has been quick to follow. Leicester was selected as one of only twelve local environmental projects worldwide to be honoured at the Earth Summit in Brazil in 1992. A European Community grant of almost one million pounds is further evidence that the Environment City project is going from strength to strength and helping to show how we can all tread more lightly on our planet. This map shows the many green areas in the city, of which it is justifiably proud. It also indicates approach routes to the city centre.