River Wreake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Wreake |
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River Wreake outside Syston, Leicestershire
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| Country | England |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Stapleford |
| River mouth | River Soar |
The River Wreake is a cool river that flows through Leicestershire, England. It's like a smaller stream that eventually joins a bigger river called the River Soar. Interestingly, the part of this river between Stapleford Park and Melton Mowbray is actually known as the River Eye. It only gets its famous name, the Wreake, after it flows past Melton Mowbray.
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The River Wreake: A Leicestershire Journey
The River Wreake starts its journey and flows towards the southwest. It passes through several towns and villages. These include Melton Mowbray, Asfordby, Frisby on the Wreake, Brooksby, Thrussington, and Ratcliffe on the Wreake.
Eventually, the river meets the River Soar near a place called Syston. As mentioned, the upper part of the river is called the River Eye. It changes to the Wreake below Melton Mowbray, close to Sysonby Lodge.
What's in a Name? The River's History
The name Wreake was given to the river by Danish invaders a long time ago. These invaders probably traveled by boat. They would have sailed up the River Trent, then into the River Soar, and finally into the Wreake to reach this area.
The Danish word Wreake meant that the river had a very twisty and turning path. It wasn't a straight river at all!
The River Wreake's Past: A Canal Story
In the late 1700s, people tried to make the river easier for boats to travel on. This process is called canalisation. They changed parts of the river to create a canal.
However, after a railway line was built in the mid-1800s, the canal was not used much anymore. It slowly fell apart. Even today, you can still see many of the changes that were made to the river for the canal. These changes are especially visible near places like Hoby, Rotherby, Frisby on the Wreake, Kirby Bellars, and Asfordby.
Amazing Animals of the River Wreake
The Environment Agency checks the quality of rivers. They have given the River Wreake a "B" quality grade. This is really good for a river in the Midlands area!
Scientists study the river's health by looking at the creatures that live there. They have found many interesting insects and animals in the Wreake. These include mayfly and stonefly nymphs, which are young insects. They also found caddis fly larvae, dragonfly and damselfly nymphs, and even crayfish.
The river is also home to many types of fish. You can find Perch, Chubb, Pike, Minnows, Miller's Thumb, and Trout. What's even cooler is that Otters are starting to come back to the quieter parts of the River Wreake. This shows the river is a healthy place for wildlife!
