Things to do in Leeds, England: The Best Nature & Wildlife Areas

Sicklinghall Park is pleased to present Pony Parties! The ideal way to celebrate your birthday and make it a fun and memorable experience. Our miniature Shetland ponies Tommy, Titch, Lottie and doodle are all waiting to help you make your birthday party the best ever. Your party will be tailored to meet your needs and we can promise a party to remember, great fun for all children from the ages of 4 up to 12 years old. Each party will consist of team games led by our experienced Pony Party Team Leader Lucy. All the games are held within the safe environment of our Indoor School and are great fun to play. Games include: Pinata; Obstacle Course Challenge; Dressing Up Team Challenge; Pony Hoppers & Much, Much More! Pony days are also available, filled with fun and games whilst learning all about the ponies!!! These will be smaller groups of 5 children for 2 hours morning / afternoon. The children will be introduced and given one of 3 miniature Shetlands for the 2 hours which they will groom, play, lead and learn all about! Dates coming up : Monday 29th July,Tuesday 30th July, Monday 5th August, Tuesday 6th August. Places are limited !

The Donkey Sanctuary is situated in the beautiful countryside of North Leeds close to Harewood House and Golden Acre Park. The Sanctuary is home to 22 donkeys which visitors are welcome to meet and pet. The centre has a gift shop, young children's play area and a small cafe selling home cooked refreshments. The Donkey Sanctuary Leeds is open daily 10am to 3pm.

St Aidan's is a perfect place to get close to nature and relax, unwind or exercise in a stress-free environment. Just outside Leeds on the banks of the River Aire, it's a big new space to walk, run, cycle, or ride your horse and enjoy the wildlife that surrounds you. It has a wide range of wild plants and animals, and is home to thousands of birds, brown hares, roe deer, wild flowers and insects - all living in a stunning landscape of vast reedbeds, grassland, woodland, lakes, ponds and islands. With a variety of circular paths of varying lengths and large areas of open grassland, St Aidan's is a great place for families to enjoy the outdoors, share a picnic and play together. Over 7.5 Miles (12 km) of footpaths, bridleways and cycle routes connect the surrounding communities, with links to national footpath and cycle networks. St Aidan's is a fantastic place for locals wishing to explore the wider countryside or as a destination for people who love nature.

Created on a floodplain in Kirkstall Valley, a recognised ‘flyway’ for wildfowl and waders on migration, the wetland habitats constructed here complement the nearby River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Please see website for varied content of interest to all ages and walks of life – fun activities for the young, information of latest sightings on the reserve, forthcoming events, newsletters, educational resources and information on how you can become a volunteer or friend of Rodley Nature Reserve. Opening Times Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and most Bank Holidays (see social media for updates) March to October – 9am to 5pm | November to February – 9am to 4pm Visitor Centre & cafe open from 10am until 4pm throughout the year. Special openings are also available for community groups, schools and walking groups by arrangement – please refer to the website contact page. Cycles welcome on tarmac areas only, bike racks on site. Registered assistance dogs only.

Hope Pastures rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes horses, ponies and donkeys. We also provide the opportunity for people to meet the animals and learn about them and how to look after them. We are open to the public everyday free of charge 10am to 3pm. Our visitor centre is open at weekends and bank holidays, with activities for you to do, information, souvenirs and refreshments.

Tropical World at Roundhay Park is one of the most well-loved family attractions in Leeds and only three miles from the city centre. At Tropical World you can take a trek through the rainforest; stopping off briefly in the outback of Australia before a quick excursion through the desert, and all in the same morning! It is home to some old friends that include rare birds, crocodiles, butterflies, bats, spiders, snakes and the meerkats - the cutest family in Leeds. It re-opened in March 2015. This follows some stunning renovations that include the aquarium area transformed into a new Amazon themed zone where you can see new residents including piranhas and salamanders.