Cribb's Meadow facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Path along the disused railway embankment which runs through Cribb's Meadow
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| Area of Search | Leicestershire |
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| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 4.2 hectares |
| Notification | 1983 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Cribb's Meadow is a really special place for nature. It's a 4.2 hectare (that's about the size of five football fields!) nature reserve. You can find it east of Wymondham in Leicestershire, England.
This amazing spot is looked after by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. They work hard to keep it safe for all the plants and animals that live there. Cribb's Meadow is so important that it has a few special titles. It's known as a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It's also a National Nature Reserve and a Nature Conservation Review site.
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Discovering Cribb's Meadow
Cribb's Meadow is a beautiful area of grassland. It's called a "neutral meadow" because of its soil type. The land here is made of something called boulder clay. This type of soil helps many different kinds of plants to grow.
A Unique Landscape
One cool thing about Cribb's Meadow is its shape. It has a special pattern called "ridge and furrow." This means the land has long, wavy ridges and dips. These shapes were made a long time ago when farmers plowed the land with oxen. It's like looking at waves in the grass!
An old, disused railway line also runs through the meadow. This railway embankment adds another interesting feature to the landscape. It's a reminder of history right in the middle of nature.
Home to Special Plants
Cribb's Meadow is a fantastic place for plant lovers. Many different types of plants grow here. Some of the rare and interesting ones include:
- Adder's tongue fern: This small fern has a unique leaf that looks a bit like a snake's tongue.
- Pepper saxifrage: A plant with small, white flowers that grows in damp meadows.
- Hayrattle: This plant gets its name because its seeds rattle inside their pods when they are dry.
- Green-winged orchid: A beautiful and rare orchid with purple flowers that have green veins on their petals.
These plants show just how important Cribb's Meadow is for biodiversity.
Visiting Cribb's Meadow
You can visit Cribb's Meadow and explore its natural beauty. There is access to the reserve from Fosse Lane. A public footpath also runs through the southern part of the meadow. This path lets you walk through the reserve and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. It's a great place to see wildlife and enjoy nature.
