Croft Pasture
Selected Wild Place / Other Wild Places / Public Rights of Way / VC55 boundary
OS map ref: SP509958
The reserve lies on both banks of the River Soar on the northern edge of Croft Village, about 12 km southwest of Leicester. Park on the minor road near the Heathcote Arms (SP 511960). Walk up Station Road to the entrance track, which is on the right. N. B. The site is liable to flooding after heavy rain.
This reserve is easily accessible by public transport to Croft village, contact Traveline for further information: phone 0871 200 22 33.
Bus information can be found here: Bus Info
Site species count:
This Wildlife Trust reserve was glebe land, and is mainly unimproved grazing, with the exception of the south eastern corner, which has been top-dressed at some time in the past. The River Soar runs northwards and eastwards across the reserve, and was excluded from the 'improvement' when much of the upper Soar was deepened and canalised in the early 1970s. Habitats include running water, river bank, and neutral and siliceous (sandy) grassland. The main form of management is by grazing with livestock, supplemented by slashing back of nettles, thistles, etc, in some years.
The major interest lies in the grassland flora. Birds-foot grows at the top of the cliff at the eastern side of the reserve, near Station Road, while wild clary can be seen below the boundary wall in the north eastern corner. A small rocky knoll in the field north of the river supports many uncommon species, including upright chickweed, meadow saxifrage, common stork's-bill and subterranean clover.
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