Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust facts for kids
This page is about the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. For other counties, see The Wildlife Trusts.
The Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust (LRWT) is a group that helps protect nature. It's one of 46 similar groups across the United Kingdom. They look after special places called nature reserves in Leicestershire and Rutland.
The Trust started in 1956. As of 2018, it has over 16,000 members. About 25 staff and more than 500 volunteers help out. Their main office is in Leicester. The Trust is a charity that works to protect wild places and the animals and plants that live there.
Leicestershire is a county in England, about 833 square miles (2,160 km2) big. Rutland is a smaller, mostly rural county, about 151.5 square miles (392 square kilometres) in size. The Trust works across both these areas.
The LRWT looks after thirty-three nature reserves. These cover almost 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) of land. Many of these places are very important for nature. For example, nineteen are called Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means they are top spots for wildlife or geology. Two are National Nature Reserves, which are even more important. One is a Ramsar site, meaning it's a super important wetland for birds worldwide.
The biggest reserve is Rutland Water at 393 hectares (970 acres). It's a huge wetland, famous for the many wild birds that spend winter there. The smallest is Bloody Oaks Quarry at 1.3 hectares (3.2 acres). This small spot has amazing grasslands with many different plant species.
Exploring Nature Reserves
The Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust manages many amazing places. Some are open for you to visit and explore. Here's a look at some of them:
Understanding Our Sites
When you see the sites listed, here's what some of the terms mean:
- PP = You can visit part of this site.
- YES = You can visit most or all of this site.
Other special names for these sites:
- GCR = Geological Conservation Review: A site important for its rocks and Earth history.
- LNR = Local nature reserve: A special place for nature in a local area.
- NCR = Nature Conservation Review: A site important for its wildlife.
- NNR = National Nature Reserve: A very important national wildlife site.
- NT = National Trust: A site owned by a charity that protects historic places and nature.
- Ramsar = Ramsar site: An internationally important wetland, usually for birds.
- SM = Scheduled monument: A historic site protected by law.
- SPA = Special Protection Area: A European site important for wild birds.
- SSSI = Site of Special Scientific Interest: A nationally important site for wildlife or geology.
| Site | Picture | Size (hectares) | Location | Public access | Special types | What makes it special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altar Stones |  |
3.7 hectares (9.1 acres) |
Leicester 52°41′31″N 1°17′02″W / 52.692°N 1.284°W SK 485107 |
YES | This site has old volcanic rocks with rare lichens. It's mostly heathland with old stone walls. | |
| Bloody Oaks Quarry |  |
1.3 hectares (3.2 acres) |
Stamford 52°41′10″N 0°33′58″W / 52.686°N 0.566°W SK 970108 |
YES | SSSI | This small site has beautiful grasslands on ancient limestone. You can find flowers like rock-rose and autumn gentian. |
| Charley Woods |  |
26.8 hectares (66 acres) |
Loughborough 52°43′44″N 1°17′49″W / 52.729°N 1.297°W SK 476148 |
YES | These are very old woods with oak trees. Many birds, including woodpeckers, love the dead wood found here. | |
| Charnwood Lodge |  |
193.5 hectares (478 acres) |
Coalville 52°44′06″N 1°19′23″W / 52.735°N 1.323°W SK 458155 |
PP | GCR, NNR, SSSI | This is the biggest moorland in the East Midlands. It's famous for its ancient 'bomb' rocks, which are volcanic rocks from 600 million years ago! |
| Cloud Wood |  |
33 hectares (82 acres) |
Loughborough 52°47′20″N 1°22′59″W / 52.789°N 1.383°W SK 417214 |
PP | SSSI | Cloud Wood is an old woodland with ash and oak trees. It has many different ground plants like yellow archangel. |
| Cossington Meadows |  |
88.9 hectares (220 acres) |
Leicester 52°42′40″N 1°07′05″W / 52.711°N 1.118°W SK 597130 |
YES | This wetland site has beautiful flowering rush and purple loosestrife. Many wild ducks, like gadwall, breed here. | |
| Cribb's Meadow |  |
5 hectares (12 acres) |
Grantham 52°45′32″N 0°40′08″W / 52.759°N 0.669°W SK 899188 |
YES | NCR, NNR, SSSI | An old railway line runs through this meadow. It has many different plants, including rare ones like adder's tongue fern and green-winged orchid. |
| Croft Pasture |  |
5.8 hectares (14 acres) |
Leicester 52°35′17″N 1°15′04″W / 52.588°N 1.251°W SP 509958 |
YES | SSSI | The River Soar flows through this meadow. You can find uncommon plants like meadow saxifrage here. |
| Dimminsdale |  |
23.5 hectares (58 acres) |
Coalville 52°47′35″N 1°26′38″W / 52.793°N 1.444°W SK 376219 |
PP | GCR, SSSI | Dimminsdale has natural woodlands and grasslands. An old lead mine on the site has unique minerals like galena. |
| Great Merrible Wood |  |
12 hectares (30 acres) |
Uppingham 52°33′25″N 0°46′16″W / 52.557°N 0.771°W SP 834962 |
YES | SSSI | This is a piece of the old Leighfield Forest. It's an ancient woodland with rare herbs and many different types of fungi. |
| Holwell Reserves |  |
16.4 hectares (41 acres) |
Melton Mowbray 52°48′11″N 0°54′07″W / 52.803°N 0.902°W SK 741234 |
YES | Old quarries here have special soil where many wildflowers grow. Old mine tunnels are home to different kinds of bats. | |
| Kelham Bridge |  |
8.1 hectares (20 acres) |
Coalville 52°42′14″N 1°23′56″W / 52.704°N 1.399°W SK 407120 |
YES | This site used to be a sewage plant but was turned into a nature reserve. The river was changed to create more wetlands, attracting many birds, butterflies, and dragonflies. | |
| Ketton Quarry |  |
27.5 hectares (68 acres) |
Stamford 52°38′13″N 0°33′29″W / 52.637°N 0.558°W SK 977053 |
YES | SSSI | The grassy areas here are home to rare moths, butterflies like grizzled and dingy skippers, and common lizards. The woodlands have the only yellow bird's-nest plants in the county. |
| Launde Woods |  |
99 hectares (240 acres) |
Leicester 52°37′26″N 0°50′31″W / 52.624°N 0.842°W SK 785036 |
YES | SSSI | This site has two parts. Launde Big Wood is an ancient woodland with many different plants like wood anemone. |
| Lea Meadows |  |
12 hectares (30 acres) |
Leicester 52°41′56″N 1°15′11″W / 52.699°N 1.253°W SK 506115 |
YES | SM, SSSI | Over 240 types of plants have been found here. The stream has protected animals like white-clawed crayfish. Part of the site has an old medieval moat. |
| Loughborough Big Meadow |  |
35.3 hectares (87 acres) |
Loughborough 52°47′28″N 1°12′14″W / 52.791°N 1.204°W SK 538218 |
YES | SSSI | This hay meadow floods sometimes and has many different plants. You can find great burnet and yellow rattle here. |
| Lucas Marsh |  |
1.5 hectares (3.7 acres) |
Oadby 52°35′31″N 1°05′06″W / 52.592°N 1.085°W SP 621998 |
YES | LNR | This marsh has tall common reeds and rough grasslands. Butterflies like small tortoiseshell and peacock can be seen here. |
| Merry's Meadows |  |
12.6 hectares (31 acres) |
Oakham 52°43′52″N 0°36′43″W / 52.731°N 0.612°W SK 938157 |
YES | SSSI | These meadows are the only place in the county where the frog orchid grows. There are also four ponds with common and great crested newts. |
| Mountsorrel Meadows |  |
12.6 hectares (31 acres) |
Leicester 52°43′12″N 1°07′41″W / 52.720°N 1.128°W SK 590140 |
PP | This site by the River Soar used to be farmland. Now it's managed for wildlife, with wet woodlands and grasslands. | |
| Narborough Bog |  |
9.2 hectares (23 acres) |
Leicester 52°34′34″N 1°11′28″W / 52.576°N 1.191°W SK 549979 |
YES | SSSI | This bog has a large area of common reed on peat. It's home to many different butterflies and moths, including some rare ones. |
| Prior's Coppice |  |
29 hectares (72 acres) |
Oakham 52°38′13″N 0°46′19″W / 52.637°N 0.772°W SK 832051 |
YES | SSSI | This ancient wood has ash and oak trees. It has many different plants that are typical of old clay woodlands. |
| Rocky Plantation |  |
3.4 hectares (8.4 acres) |
Leicester 52°42′07″N 1°16′19″W / 52.702°N 1.272°W SK 493118 |
YES | NT | This site has mixed woodland with old oak trees and rocky areas. You can find many fungi and birds like great spotted woodpeckers here. |
| Rutland Water |  |
393 hectares (970 acres) |
Oakham 52°39′14″N 0°39′43″W / 52.654°N 0.662°W SK 906071 |
YES | NCR, Ramsar, SPA, SSSI | This huge site has man-made lagoons with islands, perfect for nesting birds. There are also wildflower meadows and old woods. |
| Stonesby Quarry |  |
4 hectares (9.9 acres) |
Melton Mowbray 52°48′58″N 0°47′42″W / 52.816°N 0.795°W SK 813250 |
YES | SSSI | This quarry has grasslands with many different wildflowers. You can see beautiful pyramidal orchids and cowslips here. |
| Tilton Railway Cutting | _-_geograph.org.uk_-_423638.jpg) |
3.1 hectares (7.7 acres) |
Leicester 52°38′31″N 0°52′37″W / 52.642°N 0.877°W SK 761055 |
YES | GCR, SSSI | This old railway cutting shows rocks from about 180 million years ago. It has many fossils, including ancient ammonites. |
| Ulverscroft |  |
56 hectares (140 acres) |
Leicester 52°42′25″N 1°16′34″W / 52.707°N 1.276°W SK 490124 |
YES | NT, SSSI | This site has many different habitats like woodland, heath, and marshes. The meadow has rich flowers like fragrant orchid. |
| Wanlip Meadows |  |
16.2 hectares (40 acres) |
Leicester 52°41′17″N 1°06′32″W / 52.688°N 1.109°W SK 603104 |
YES | These meadows sometimes flood from the River Soar and are grazed by cattle. Many birds, grass snakes, frogs, and toads live here. | |
| Wymeswold Meadows |  |
4.5 hectares (11 acres) |
Loughborough 52°48′07″N 1°11′28″W / 52.802°N 1.191°W SK 614231 |
YES | The River Mantle runs through this grassy site. It has many different plants and insects. Butterflies like orange tips and common blues can be found here. | |
| Wymondham Rough |  |
12.5 hectares (31 acres) |
Melton Mowbray 52°44′53″N 0°46′12″W / 52.748°N 0.770°W SK 831174 |
YES | SSSI | This site has grasslands, woodlands, an old canal, a marsh, and ponds. The clay grassland has many different plants like common bent. |
More About Nature in Leicestershire and Rutland
- List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Leicestershire
- List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Rutland
- List of Local Nature Reserves in Leicestershire
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.