Wild places

This verge being managed to improve biodiversity as part of the County Council/Parish Council Verges Biodiversity Project. By allowing the grasses and wildflowers to grow and managing the verge as a wildflower meadow it will support a much greater variety of wildlife species.

The grounds of Snibston Discovery Park form a mini Country Park covering over 40 hectares of mixed habitats. The grounds include the former colliery spoil heap which has been reclaimed to form woodland and an open rough grassland area.

At the heart of the Country Park is the Grange Nature Reserve. Once the gardens of the Colliery Manager, it is now an important ecological site for wildlife. The Grange Nature Reserve became Leicestershire County Council’s first Local Nature Reserve in May 1993.

This mile long section covers the independent routes of the River Soar and to the east the Grand Union Canal north from Abbey Park Road (B5327) to their confluence at Belgrave Lock (left-hand image above) just south of the recently created Ellis Meadows wild place. Tow-footpaths run along the western side of both the the river and canal segments. The area between the two watercourses is known as Wolsey Island after the former hosiery factory and the skyline is dominated by the preserved Wolsey Chimney monument.

This site covers the mile long section of the River Soar from the bridge in Barrow upon Soar northwards to Pilling's Lock and weir. A footpath runs along the western bank throughout. After periods of heavy rain, especially in winter months, this route may become very muddy and at times impassable due to flooding.

This mile long stretch of the River Soar lies between the Ellis Meadows wild place and A563 Watermead Way (see centre photo above). The footpath runs along the eastern bank of the river throughout, there is marina linked to the river just south of the Birstall roundabout (a.k.a. Red Hill Circle).

This 1.5 mile stretch of the Soar-Grand Union Canal runs northwards from the Aylestone Meadows NR to Castle Gardens. and includes much of the canalised 'Mile Straight'. The modern Leicester City football ground (currently the King Power Stadium) lies on the eastern bank opposite the weir and lock at Freemens Meadow. Just to the north opposite Filbert Street (site of the former football stadium) the River Soar splits off to the west whilst the Canal  continues northwards flanked by the buildings of Leicester's De Montfort University.

This wild place covers 2 miles of the navigable waterway between Kegworth and Ratcliffe on Soar. The northern part comprises about half a mile of the Ratcliffe Cut as far as Ratcliffe Lock where it rejoins the River. After periods of heavy rain, especially in winter months, this route may become very muddy and at times impassable due to flooding. With the county boundary in the mid-stream position please ensure any records you enter refer to sightings within Leicestershire and their grid references plot within the county.

This stretch of the River Soar-Grand Union Canal extends for about a mile north from the double road bridges of the A47 (St Augustine Road) to the A6 that runs along the southwestern side of Abbey Park. Just north of the A47 the iconic Friars Mill building lies on the eastern bank before the canal and river are split with two weirs separating the unnavigable river running immediately west of the Canal. These two components then diverge and continue north east to the A6.

This wild place comprises the 3 mile passage of the Grand Union Canal through Loughborough terminating at the Lock at Bishop's Meadow. There is a surfaced towpath throughout along the eastern-northern bank. The canal initially skirts the town running northwestwards to the A60, it then turns westwards past the canalside Boat Inn public house to a T-junction. From here the main navigation continues northwards for about a mile to Bishop's Meadow Lock.

This 2.5 mile section of the River Soar - Grand Union Canal runs from Bishop's Meadow Lock in Loughborough northwestwards to Zouch. The initial part is canalised and skirts an industrial estate before the confluence with the River Soar. From this point northwards to the Trent the Leicestershire/Nottinghamshire county boundary follows the mid-point of the river channel. The River flows past the water frontage of Normanton on Soar (on the Notts bank) with its church dominating the skyline. At Zouch the river course is diverted via a weir around the village.

This 2.5 mile stretch of the River Soar - Grand Union Canal follows the winding course of the River from Mountsorrel to Barrow upon Soar and then includes the Barrow Cut, a short canal section with a lock. This Cut provides a navigable short- cut for river traffic through Barrow avoiding the River's long shallow meander loop westwards via Quorn. The footpath  starts at Mountsorrel on the eastern bank and passes under the impressive brick archway that conveys crushed stone from the Mountsorrel quarries to the railhead at Barrow.

This two mile stretch of the Grand Union Canal runs from Pilling's Lock northwestwards across open countryside to the edge of Loughborough. This is entirely canal enabling routing through Loughborough. The River Soar diverges at Pilling's Lock and flows on the opposing eastern side of the valley, there is no public access along this river section.

A towpath runs along the western bank of the Canal throughout.

This wild place covers the navigable watercourse on its northernmost stretch of 2miles from Ratcliffe on Soar to its junction with the River Trent. A continuous footpath follows the western (Leicestershire) bank of the River. There is a single lock at Redhill [SK492305] adjacent to a farm, caravan park, cafe and a boatyard.

This stretch off the River Soar covers the 3.5 miles from Zouch north to Kegworth. There is a right of way footpath along the route on the Nottinghamshire bank. After periods of heavy rain especially in winter months this route may become very muddy and at times impassable due to flooding.

This two mile long section of navigable waterway consists of three sections. From the southern end a straight section of canal runs north from the Hope and Anchor public house in Wanlip, after two-thirds of a mile this joins the River Wreake and proceeds westwards, followed by the confluence with the River Soar and a lock and weir at Cossington Old Mill. There is a towpath-footpath along the eastern-northern bank of the navigable waterway throughout.

South Luffenham is a small village to the south of Rutland Water, seperated from North Luffenham by the River Chater. The characterful church was built soon after the Norman Conquest, making it significantly older than many of the other churches in the area, and it is rumoured that there are tunnels connecting it to the nearby stream. The churchyard is dense with trees, and extends further than can be seen from the road.

Designated a Local Wildlife Site in 2006, the South Luffenham North verge is 500 metres in length and is adjacent to South Luffenham Golf Club. The main habitat is mixed grassland.

Designated a Local Wildlife Site in 2003, the South Luffenham South verge is 1.4 kilometers in length, on the south side of Stamford Road only. The main habitats are mesotrophic, calcareous and mixed grassland.

Created in 1885, Spinney Hill Park is 34 acres of sloping parkland with many trees and some 'wild' areas. It is bisected by the Willow Brook which has been re-landscaped in areas to create a more natural profile.

Formerly allotments, this site is now managed for wildlife as public open space. The Saffron Brook runs through the southern edge and though canalised, some aquatic vegetation has established and both Otter and Kingfisher have been seen here. Parts of the main site have been seeded with wildflowers and Wild Carrot, Black Knapweed and Birds-foot Trefoil are well-established. Damper areas support a number of dragonflies, including Brown Hawker, Banded Demoiselle and Blue-tailed Damselfly.