Moving to Leicester soon

[Bucksgirl]

Hi everyone,
DH and I are moving soon to South Knighton in Leicester. We are new to the area but what we have seen of it so far we love. I have some odd questions. The garden will need a make-over and the surveyor suggested the soil thereabouts is a clay soil. Would this be correct? I see only heathers and ferns in the garden, so am guessing it's also acid soil. Any recommendations as to what plants do well here?

I'm also wondering what the water is like - hard or soft? And I'd be very grateful for your opinions and suggestions re places to go and things to see in the area - eg good places to shop, eat, dog walk etc.

[UnaPalomaBlanca]

Hi, welcome to Leicester! I'm not a knowledgeable gardener but I can definitely say the area has clay soil. We even have a covenant in our deeds forbidding us from digging the clay to make bricks....
Things that do well in my garden- lavender (surprisingly); honeysuckle and ferns/ bracken down my shady side return. Loads of spring bulbs do well- v pleased with my black hyacinths! Magnolia seems to thrive round here. I don't have it myself as garden is too small but there are some fabulous trees in other people's gardens in spring!
How do I tell if water is hard or soft???? I get a small amount of limescale in my kettle but the tap water is good to drink...
You're well placed for 2 parks for dog walks- Knighton and Victoria. Queens Road in Clarendon Park and Allandake Rd/ Francis St in Stoneygate are good for local/ independent/ shops/ bars/ cafes.
Hope your move goes well.

[JT05]

I used to live in Stoneygate, on the other side of the A6 from South Knighton. They are the best places to live in Leicester.
Our DCs are all grown up so we've downsized to a S Leicester village.
All the places pp has said are great, but also the Botanic gardens near the racecourse, are lovely and open all the year round. Unfortunately, you can't take the dogs, but it's really safe for children.
A walk down Shanklin Drive, looking at the front gardens will help you know what plants grow well. Enjoy living there.

[Bucksgirl]

Many thanks UmaPalomaBlanca and JT05. I do appreciate your input. So glad lavenders will grow locally. Love them. Sounds like the water is good too. The more I hear about the area the more thrilled I am. In a village near us, the locals have a covenant forbidding them from keeping wild or exotic animals in their garden. Turns out a major circus owner kept his lions and giraffes in his back garden during WW2!

[UnaPalomaBlanca]

I've lived in lots of different towns and cities but this is the friendliest place I have ever lived.
Leicester is not a pretty city ( tho South Knighton is a lovely suburb) but it has community and soul.

[Bucksgirl]

Thanks, that's great to know, UPB, and that is certainly the impression I got during my so far brief visits.