Desford Charity Fields
Selected Wild Place / Other Wild Places / Public Rights of Way / VC55 boundary
The site is not public open space but visits are welcome by arrangement. Contact Nick Crowley - jncrowley@btinternet.com - if you would like to visit.
Private - access by arrangement
There are several excellent short videos about the site on YouTube (search for Desford Charity Fields), including those linked below:
Site species count:
The site comprises three fields managed for wildlife, two of which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites because of their very rich floral diversity. Parts of the grassland are amongst the best meadows in Leicestershire. The fields are surrounded by mature, mixed species hedgerows and border the Rothley Brook on the north-east boundary where there are several mature Alders and Willows. A small wooded area and a pond are also part of the site. The meadow grassland is managed by grazing and sometimes by taking a hay cut.
The site is now owned and managed by the Barns Charity but originated in 1729 when William Barns left £100 for the benefit of “poor and deserving children” in the parish. Part of the money was used to purchase land, though the current three fields were allocated as a replacement following the enclosures in 1760.
The meadow grassland flora is very rich and includes Meadow Saxifrage, Great Burnet, Pepper Saxifrage, Adder's Tongue, Lady's Mantle, Bugle, Betony, Devil's Bit and many more.
The records and images below may include those from adjacent sites if the grid reference submitted with these records overlaps the boundary of this Wild Place.
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