Leavesden Country Park

A park waiting to be discovered……

Whether it’s heritage, wildlife, play, walking, cycling, or enjoying a coffee, Leavesden Country Park has something for everyone.

The rejuvenated park, thanks to funding from Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Lottery players, provides a home to Leavesden HIVE and The Garden, a stunning Heritage Trail of nine significant pieces of art set against the woodlands backdrop, the Leavesden Hospital History Association, a 'Friends of' group not to mention the exciting play area, woodland walks and Woodlands Café all combine to offer a truly great day out.

Your visit

Car park opening times:
06:30am - 10.00pm daily
Please note there is a height barrier at the main entrance to the park of 2.1 metres

Toilets

There are toilet facilities located near the cafe which are currently open:
Monday-Friday 09.30-18:00
Saturday and Sunday 09:30 – 16:00

Other useful information:

YMCA
Woodlands Cafe
The HIVE
Leavesden Hospital History Association
Play area

Self-guided walks

There are two self-guided walks that help you enjoy the Heritage Sculpture Trail, the Woodland Walk and East Lane cemetery.

Heritage Trail

You can enjoy the heritage trail from wherever you join it in the park. Set against the backdrop of the park, with each art installation leading you to the next. The sculptures and their themes carry a significance to the community and local history.

Find out about the Heritage Trail walking route, a self-guided walk, suitable for buggies, wheelchairs and mobility aids (at a leisurely pace allow approx: 60mins for a return walk).

Minds 

Recognising the heritage of the hospitals that once stood on the site and played such an important role in the community. The Minds sculptures were created by NEON who often use familiar materials in ways previously un-imagined. This set of sculptures are formed largely from steel, designed to reflect the stories told to the artists by the community and created to enhance the experience for all the senses.

The Community
Sitting in the Remembrance Garden you will find a ceiling of over-layered circles that move in the wind reflecting the members of the community working together to make the hospitals function. The three main circles are the representation of Leavesden Asylum/Hospital. The middle circles represent the community of people who worked, trained and volunteered within the hospitals. The small circles are the patients of the hospitals.

The Boundary
In this artwork the mirror wall represents the separation of the people in and out of the hospital. when you explore the different views by moving the mirror walls, how does it affect the view on the other side? How do we see ourselves in relation to the wall and to the other side? How does it feel to move from one side of the wall to the other?

The Evolution
These sculptures are representations of the people who lived and worked in the hospitals who saw the treatment, care and understanding of mental health evolve. As the mirrored skins move in the wind, they allow us to see what lies behind the surface, representing how through time, different treatments affected how much we saw of the patients' inner world.

Machines 

Acknowledging the importance of Leavesden aerodrome and those who worked at the factories. WILL LEE has been a chainsaw carver for ten years. Based in Hertfordshire, he travels the UK and USA to work on commissions. In recent years he has held the title of European Chainsaw Carving Champion. Will only uses local timber which has fallen, been felled for safety reasons or is proven to be sustainable. The three sculptures in the Machines theme have been created from both oak and sweet chestnut trees.

The Wooden Wonder
Inspired by the important historical heritage of Leavesden this carving embraces the machines which were built in the area. Residents were passionate about seeing the creation of a large-scale aircraft to reflect the amazing engineering and design that took place in the Aerodrome. The Mosquito plane includes a cockpit in which you can sit in and listen to the audio stories from people who have worked at the site.

Leavesden Spirit
The Leavesden Aerodrome was well known for its community spirit, employing several generations of factory workers. This sculpture represents exactly that and displays the unity and happiness remembered fondly by all those who worked there. When the aerodrome's Rolls-Royce factory ceased production in 1992, a poem was found tied to the gates, lamenting the closure of the site along with the end of the community that had worked there. The poem is etched in the sculpture for you to read.

Ghosts in the Machine
Listening to community feedback, it was evident that factory workers were proud of their work on engines which carried mystical names like Ghost, Goblin, Gnome and Gipsy. The artist imaged these unique characters hiding amongst the cogs and pistons in the engine and felt that a sculpture containing these features would be exciting and evocative.

Movies

Celebrating the wonder of the film industry and its significance to Leavesden. These sculptures created by BROADBENT STUDIO, who have over thirty years’ experience completing public art projects, private commissions and exhibitions across the UK and overseas. Their philosophy is that art grows from local soil. In this way, their work creates a sense of belonging which is embraced by people who live and work locally and contributes to meaningful place-making.

A Trick of the Light
The magic of the movies begins with a simple trick that makes still images appear to move. It's an old trick, developed as a child's novelty toy long before the movies themselves arrived. You can spin the top section of the granite zoetrope and look through the slots to see the images come to life. By means of this primitive device, you see the figure of Charlie Chaplin, one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema.

Every Moment Shines
The world of the movies is created by lights, camera and crew all focusing their attention on one spot. This space becomes charged with energy, so whatever happens in it feels significant. An important part of movie-making focuses on the dialogue between the star in the spotlight and the director behind the scenes. Sit within the film set on the case and imagine yourself in another land or sit in the Director's chair and take charge of the scene to create your story.

Kiss of the Screen Gods
Standing tall at the Langley Lane entrance to the park is the monument to the iconic screen kiss. Above a pedestal of stone, carved like a column for a Greek God, two shining profiles meet. Screen idols locked in a kiss, oblivious to our existence.

Heritage trail artist interview

You can view the Heritage trail artist interview film below:

The Horses Field

The Horses’ Field originally comprised of four fields of arable farmland with a small wood. Local knowledge suggests that The Horses’ Field got its name as it was used for grazing horses. In the 1930s the land was considered as a site for an aerodrome and in 1940 the Leavesden Aerodrome was built, opening in 1941.

The site closed in the mid-1990s and over time the land became a film studio which is now Warner Bros. Studio Tours, Leavesden.

During the summer months, a small number of cattle graze the field. This grazing helps the wildlife to flourish and prevents shrubs and brambles from taking over.

Find out about the Heritage Trail walking route, a self-guided walk that can be extended to include the Horses' Field, suitable for buggies, wheelchairs and mobility aids (at a leisurely pace allow approx: 60mins for a return walk).

The cows!

During the summer months The Horses Field welcomed cattle to utilise grazing to naturally maintain the meadow grass. The herd of Red Devon Cattle helped to sustain a diverse grassland habitat through their natural activity - benefitting a wide variety of plants, animals, and birds under a plan known as conservation grazing.

Red Devon Cattle are descendants of ancient cattle breeds from the Southwest of England. Known for their ruby red coat (sometimes leading to the name of Devon Ruby or Red Ruby), the breed are remarkably resilient, with a hardiness and ability to thrive on rough foliage making them an excellent choice for conservation grazing. The herd - made up of 14 cows which are 18 months old - are a British heritage breed from Devon and are known for their docile, good nature and it is hoped they will swiftly settle into their new surroundings.

The conservation grazing taking place throughout the district is carefully monitored to prevent over grazing, under grazing, poaching of the ground and to protect more sensitive plants where necessary.

Dog walkers are still welcome to use the footpaths across the Horses’ Fields, but all visitors are encouraged to abide by the Countryside Code. To protect dogs, the cattle and ground nesting birds, the council asks that they are kept on a lead when entering the enclosed area during the summer months. There is also a cattle free route around the edge of the field.

The cattle are regularly checked by their farmer. However, if you see anything that you feel needs reporting, please contact 01923 776611.

History and restoration

Upcoming events

Historical walks and talks about the fascinating heritage of the site are delivered regularly by the Leavesden Hospital History Association.

Two guided walks are planned this spring through Leavesden Country Park which was the former site of the Leavesden Asylum/Hospital, St Pancras Workhouse/School, Canadian Hospital/Kaki University, Springfield School and the Abbots Langley Hospital.

These popular walks also include the Heritage Trail whose sculptures recognizes the Leavesden Asylum/Hospital, Leavesden Aerodrome, Rolls Royce factory and the Leavesden Film Studios, now Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.

See the posters below for details of the 2025 walks which can be booked by searching Leavesden Country Park History Walks 2025 on Eventbrite.

Restoration

Original features of the park have been restored and conserved for future generations to enjoy.

The Edwardian Garden, planted a century ago, dominates the south of the park. The original vistas have been carefully restored to their former glory and includes important specimen trees, such as the Western Red Cedar and the Chilean Pine. The refurbished Edwardian Garden steps lead you down to the Remembrance Garden, laid in memory of those who lived, volunteered, and worked on this site in the many hospitals.

The St Pancras Workhouse/Orphanage railings have been beautifully restored along College Road (once known as Asylum Road) and the restored hospital Font situated near the car park, was first shown on an OS map in 1897.

Conservation

The park is home to wildflowers, fruit orchards, butterflies and animals. Here you will find the Chilean Pine (Monkey Puzzle Tree), the inspiration for the Leavesden Country Park logo.

Towards the north of the park, a meandering path through the woodlands allows you to enjoy the peace and quiet. You may spot bluebells and, in the twilight, perhaps a Common Pipistrelle or Noctule bat will fly by.

The park also has wildflower meadows providing invaluable place for birds, insects and mammals to flourish. These grasslands provide beautiful habitats and a home to an array of species including delicate wildflowers and Comma butterflies.

East Lane Cemetery

The 1866 Lychgate, forms the impressive entrance to East Lane Cemetery, which belonged to and was used by the Leavesden Hospitals.

Three Rivers District Council have worked with a specially trained team to carefully restore all grave markers, log all details of the graves, and return the cemetery to the beautiful place that so many people who have visited this site over the years remember.

The logging of the grave markers is essential to ensure that the details of the staff and patients from the hospital, who are at rest in the cemetery, are preserved for future generations to appreciate and will be shared with the Heritage Hub to ensure that this is the case. Restoration is now complete within this area to mark the significance and pay homage to those who died there until as late as 1995.  
In January 2020, 15 enthusiastic volunteers from the Leavesden Hospital History Association (LHHA) gathered at Leavesden HIVE to begin the journey of discovery at East Lane Cemetery.

Their efforts were rewarded when over 500 grave markers were uncovered underneath layers of foliage. LHHA took on the daunting task of collecting, organizing, and entering all the information found into the “Leavesden Hospital, Chapel of the Good Shepherd, East Lane Cemetery, Register of Names” which can be found here.

This invaluable piece of history was due to the hard work and dedication of Martin Brooks, founder of LHHA and Gill Durell, a local Genealogist, who accepted the challenge of researching the back grounds of 570 names in the Register of Names. Martin has also written a beautiful book - 'Acts of Caring and other Heroics' containing stories from the Leavesden Asylum/Hospital 1868 to 1995 which is a compilation of first-hand accounts that detail this important heritage. Copies can be ordered by visiting www.leavesdenhospitals.org and clicking on ‘The Book-Acts of Caring’ tab.

A central memorial wall has been thoughtfully designed to reflect the architecture of the Leavesden Hospital buildings. This pays homage to those who have been laid to rest within East Lane Cemetery. The wall also displays a memorial stone to remember those staff members who gave their lives in two World Wars.

The cemetery is also proud to display the Leavesden Hospital WW1 and WWII Remembrance stone. This details those young men who gave their lives in two Great Wars and who were working at the hospital. The site is now listed as a 'War Memorial' and details can be found here: http://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk

The Hospitals

The Country Park itself, was home to the 'Leavesden Asylum for Idiots and Imbeciles' built in 1867 which was one of the first such institutions for London in Victorian time and a unique facility. It was 90% self-sufficient for 2,085 patients, 639 orphans and staff with school, nursing college, gas works, sewage treatment system and 42 acre farm and livestock. The Asylum provided work for hundreds of local people and played a significant part in mental health treatment and attitude in Victorian times. Some of their buildings remain intact such as the church and the graveyard with its beautiful gate. Within this site, the St Pancras Orphanage/Workhouse and the Canadian/Abbots Langley General Hospital were also built.

For further information visit www.leavesdenhospital.org

From flight to film

The Leavesden Aerodrome was a nearby site and in 1939 with the outbreak of World War II came to its peak usage. The de Havilland company, based in nearby Hatfield, were under contract by the Ministry of Defence to produce the Mosquito fighter craft and the Halifax bomber. This new site was acquired as the large-scale hangars needed to accommodate the production of a huge number of planes required could not be constructed at de Havilland's Hatfield base. 710 Halifax bombers were built at the Leavesden Aerodrome and manufacturing of Mosquitoes soon followed, totalling 1,476 planes built. The two planes were both critical successes for Britain during the conflict.

After the war, the aerodrome was acquired by Rolls-Royce who used it as a factory producing engines for airplanes and later helicopters. However, by the early 1990s they had sold their interests in the site. Eventually Rolls-Royce departed during 1992/93 before the airfield's final closure in 1994. Unable to find a new owner, Leavesden Aerodrome was left disused.

... and so to film

In 1994 Eon Productions, the makers of the James Bond movies, needed a suitable facility to make their latest Bond film Goldeneye and after an extensive search, they discovered the recently disused Leavesden Aerodrome.

The filmmakers soon realised that the site was perfect for film production; the huge aircraft hangars made ideal production stages for the creation of film sets. Where aircraft once hung, set lighting took their place, creating the perfect environment in which to film. In addition, the large exterior filming area backlot provided filmmakers with a unique facility that could host productions of any scale.

They acquired the site in 2010 and embarked on an ambitious building programme which opened in 2012 to create a new world-class, state-of-the-art film and TV studio.

The HIVE

Leavesden HIVE is regularly used by several groups including the Leavesden Hospital History Association, local art groups, uniformed bodies, and visitors.

The HIVE, located opposite Woodlands Café and a one-minute walk from the car park will foster and care for the beauty of the park and focus on sharing this with the community.

Combining heritage and wildlife together, the Leavesden HIVE will be a pool of knowledge for park visitors to enjoy and will include interpretation boards, educational exhibits, and artefacts from the rich heritage of Leavesden Country Park.​

The Leavesden HIVE plays home to the Leavesden Hospital History Association, founded by Martin Brooks. Inside you will find a stunning collection of memorabilia and artefacts and learn more about the history of the hospitals that once stood in the park. The Association provides an incredible insight to the legacy of the hospitals that once filled the grounds of the site and played such an important role in the treatment of mental health in the Leavesden community.
Find out more:https://www.leavesdenhospital.org/

If you are interested in hiring this versatile space, please complete the online form:

Listening Hub in The HIVE

Over the years Three Rivers District Council has worked in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire’s Heritage Hub and together over time we’ve recorded a series of Oral Histories of local residents, who have heartwarming stories to share about their connections to the Park's heritage.

The University of Hertfordshire’s Heritage Hub kindly host these histories for us and you can listen to them here. Alternatively, Three Rivers District Council have installed a unique piece of equipment to ensure that the Park’s prized heritage is further celebrated and accessible to all. The Listening Hub captures eight fascinating oral history recordings. In these poignant interviews, you can listen to people share stories and reflect on their memories of the Hospitals and the Aerodrome that once stood on this site and nearby.

Visitors to Leavesden HIVE can sit and listen to these recordings through headphones, enabling them to enjoy and appreciate the legacy of the park in a new way. The unit has a touch screen that connects visitors to the numerous videos made of the park including the artist’s journey of creating the Heritage Trail and links to the local history groups. There are also various park photo albums and local heritage books to pick off the shelves and discover.

As we continue to build an archive of heritage-based information, we are placing a call out for new Oral Histories. We’re always fascinated to hear memories shared and stories told, so if you have a link to these industries, please get in touch with us!

Volunteer

Join us and be a 'Friend of' the park.

The Friends of Leavesden Country Park is a group of friendly, local people who volunteer at Leavesden Country Park to help with a range of tasks throughout the year.

Would you like to be part of the journey and care for the park?

To find out more about how you can help or for more information please visit our Biodiversity page or email:leisure@threerivers.gov.uk

Management Plan for Leavesden Country Park

View the Leavesden Country Park Management Plan 2021-2031 (PDF, 67 MB)