Visitor numbers show how much people in Herefordshire value natural green space, getting outdoors and connecting with nature. Queenswood is easily accessible by bus or car, located on the A49 between Hereford and Leominster and provides facilities including accessible paths, toilets and mobility vehicles which makes it accessible to a wide range of visitors.

Walking trails include a Gruffalo Trail, which can be navigated by younger children and is accessible for pushchairs, an audio trail and specimen tree trails as well as longer, more challenging paths that lead out of the arboretum into the surrounding woodland which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

2023 also saw a wide range of events take place at the site. Highlights included the Festival of Wood with crafts people demonstrating traditional crafts such as woodturning, woodcarving and fretwork, green woodworking and horse logging demonstration which over 300 visitors attended.

2023 also saw Queenswood’s inaugural 5k Trail Run, Run for the Woods, with 80 participants following a challenging course around the woodlands. Bookings are open for this year’s event taking place in September.

For the school holidays, Queenswood teamed up with The Courtyard for Narnia-themed trails and a teddy bear trail over the summer holidays.

Queenswood’s Manager, Max Smith said “The team worked hard to put on a wide range of activities and successful events last year which brought new visitors to the country park and we plan to replicate many of these in 2024. The wonderful trees in the arboretum remain the stars of the show, however, and draw visitors year-round but especially in spring as the magnolias blossom above the woodland wildflowers and in autumn when we have a fantastic display of autumn colour.”

The team are also planning further improvements to facilities in 2024 including installing further inclusive playground equipment, a toddler swing and purchasing a new mobility vehicle for visitors to hire out.