Charnwood Forest facts for kids
Charnwood Forest is a special area in north-western Leicestershire, England. It is located near the cities of Leicester and Loughborough, and the town of Coalville. Even though it's called a "forest," it's actually a mix of many different landscapes.
This area is famous for its unique geological features and amazing wildlife. It has 45 important sites for nature and rocks. What makes it truly special is that it's the only place in Europe where the ancient Charnia fossil has been found. This fossil comes from the Ediacaran period, which was hundreds of millions of years ago!
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What is Charnwood Forest Like?
Charnwood Forest has large areas of woodland. It's also very hilly and rocky, with some beautiful, wild spots. The land is generally high up, usually more than 600 feet (180 meters) above sea level.
On the western side of the forest, there used to be a big coal mining area. Towns like Coalville were built around these mines. Today, this old mining land is being replanted and brought back to life as part of the National Forest project. The M1 motorway, a major road, also passes through Charnwood Forest.
Rocks and Quarries
The rocks in Charnwood Forest are very hard and have been used by people for hundreds of years. In the past, they were used to make grind-stones for milling grain. Today, the granite quarries here are very important for the whole country. They dig up crushed stone, called "aggregate," which is used in building roads and other construction projects across southern Britain.
Protecting Nature in Charnwood
Charnwood Forest is a very important place for nature. It includes a National Nature Reserve (NNR), which is a top protected area. There are also 19 SSSIs, which means they are important for their plants, animals, or geology.
Many other sites in the forest are protected too. These include places important for geology around the world, and several local nature reserves. The Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust also looks after seven nature reserves here. All these efforts help to protect the special plants and animals that live in Charnwood Forest.
Fun Things to Do
Charnwood Forest is a popular place for people to visit and enjoy the outdoors. You can go for lovely woodland walks, especially in early spring when the bluebells create a beautiful carpet of purple flowers. Rockclimbing and walking are also very popular activities in the area. It's a great place to explore and connect with nature!
Images for kids
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The summit of Beacon Hill
