THERE are few places more suited to a tree trail than Roundhay Park.

As soon as you enter this leafy haven just a short distance from Leeds outer ring road, you are enveloped by trees of every size and shape. Shady avenues lead into the park, past benches and flowerbeds, opening out to far-reaching views, framed by even more trees.

The variety has prompted the creation of two tree trails in this vast park, through the lawned area between The Roundhay Fox pub and The Mansion.

Devised by the Friends of Roundhay Park, they can be followed individually or linked together into a circular route. Each takes between 20 and 30 minutes, highlighting some of the more unusual trees such as dawn redwood and ginkgo along with well-known ones like horse chestnut and sycamore.

A Tree Trail booklet, which can be bought for £2 from nearby locations, contains colour photographs of every tree along with a brief description and some additional interesting facts: at the mulberry tree, for example, you can read how the rhyme ‘Here we go round the mulberry bush’ is believed to have started.

If you haven’t got the booklet, there is an information board near the Roundhay Fox entrance, indicating the positions of certain trees: the London plane with its mottled bark, whitebeam, which has thick, oval-shaped leaves with a white, felt-like hair underneath, the spiky monkey puzzle tree, introduced to the country around 1792 and the horse chestnut, the nuts from which, if eaten are actually poisonous to both horses and humans. Many of the trees carry discreet labels to help you identify them.

Roundhay is one of the biggest parks in Europe, with more than 700 acres of parkland, lakes and gardens. We wandered for hours, watching dog walkers, ducks, swans and squirrels scuttling away clutching nuts. Despite its location in the suburbs of a large city, it is still possible to walk a long way and not see another person.

As well as the tree guide, a leaflet has been produced by the Friends of Roundhay Park, providing information about the park’s geology. This also is available to buy.

Further details of Roundhay’s geology, ecology, architecture and landscapes as well as popular culture associated with the park can be seen in an exhibition room at The Mansion, a large stone two-and three-storey house in Greek Revival style with a view over the Upper Lake.

The elegant home was built between 1811 and 1826 for Thomas Nicholson and his wife Elizabeth, who took up residence in 1816. The residence had three carriage houses and stabling for 17 horses. It was bought by the City of Leeds in 1871.

The grade ll-listed building was leased out by Leeds City Council as a hotel and restaurant, being a popular place for weddings, receptions and dances until its closure in 2004 for renovation.

In November 2007 parts of the building were reopened after an £8 million refurbishment as an education and visitor centre and offices for park staff. In August 2009 a catering company refurbished the cafe and function rooms.

Today it contains a lovely restaurant, The Garden Room, where both a la carte meals and snacks are served. Weddings and corporate events also take place at the hilltop venue.

If you have a day to spare, you could combine a visit to Roundhay Park with a trip to Tropical World in Leeds - one of the UK’s most popular garden tourist attractions and home to the largest collection of tropical plants outside Kew Gardens. With aquariums, a butterfly house and a smart cafe, it stands just a stone’s throw from the park's Princes Avenue entrance, opposite the Roundhay Fox.

*On Friday November 4 the park is hosting a bonfire and firework display, which is free admission.

*The Tree Trail booklet which includes both trails, costs £2 from Tropical World; With Love card and gift shop, Oakwood; City Stationers, Oakwood and Philip Howard Books on Street Lane, Roundhay, or, buy now online from forporg/shop.