Eye Brook Valley Woods facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Great Merrible Wood
|
|
| Area of Search | Leicestershire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 65.7 hectares |
| Notification | 1983 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Eye Brook Valley Woods is a special natural area in Leicestershire, England. It covers about 65.7 hectares, which is like 160 football fields! This area is called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because it has important plants, animals, and habitats.
The Eye Brook Valley Woods are actually made up of three separate parts: Great Merrible Wood, Bolt Wood, and Park Wood. Great Merrible Wood is looked after by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, a group that helps protect nature.
Contents
What Makes These Woods Special?
These woods are like living pieces of history! They are the last parts of a very old forest called Leighfield Forest, which existed way back in medieval times. Imagine knights and castles – this forest was around then!
Trees and Plants
Each part of Eye Brook Valley Woods has its own mix of trees.
- Park Wood is mostly filled with tall ash trees and wych elm trees.
- Bolt Wood and Great Merrible Wood have lots of ash trees too, but also many field maple trees.
Besides the big trees, there are many different kinds of smaller plants and shrubs growing here. This variety makes the woods a great home for many creatures.
Ponds and Marshes
You can also find small ponds and wet, marshy areas within the woods. These wet spots are important habitats for different kinds of plants and animals that love damp places.
Visiting Eye Brook Valley Woods
If you want to explore, you can visit Great Merrible Wood. There's a public footpath from Stockerston Lane that lets you walk through this beautiful area. However, Bolt Wood and Park Wood are private, so you can't visit those parts.
