Recently, this column has concentrated mainly on animals and plants that can be seen easily around our villages. However, for those prepared to travel just a mile or two, there are reserves that hold a much greater variety of wildlife. Here are just a couple of our local treasures.
Huncote New Hill Nature Reserve
This is situated just outside of Huncote with the entrance at the bottom of Croft Hill. There is limited parking on the roadside nearby, or it is possible to park in the village and walk to the entrance. When you go through the gate you are faced with a choice of where to go; straight on along the river valley, or turn right up the steep steps to the top of the hill. There are more steps further along so you can take a circular route and cover both habitats.
The route along the valley is flat and accessible to all, although further along it is prone to water- logging so wellies are advisable. There are various songbirds in the trees to the right and rabbits in the fields to the left. After around 400 metres the path splits so you can walk either side of the pond, which also has a small jetty that allows you to get close to the water. There are toads here in the spring leaving extensive strings of spawn among the weeds, and several species of dragonfly and damselfly throughout the summer. After the pond is a stretch of raised boardwalk looking over farmland.
At the end of the path you either return the way you came or take a steep climb up the steps to the new hill. Your reward for the climb is the chance to see several species of butterfly in the summer that are rarely seen in our gardens, including Small Copper, Brown Argus and Small Heath. The walk back along the top offers an intriguing view down into Croft Quarry, often in the company of jackdaw, kestrel and, on occasions, a peregrine falcon. The path leads to the steps back to the entrance, although you can walk on safely around the rim of the quarry and onto Croft Hill.
Overall, around 250 species of animal and 100 species of plant have been recorded from the area so I’m sure you will find something to interest you here (see www.naturespot.org.uk/wild-place/croft-hill).
Fosse Meadows Country Park, Sharnford
Just down the B4114, a turn to the left along the old Fosse Way will soon bring you to the car park for Fosse Meadows. Woodland birds, including occasional tree sparrows and bramblings, can be seen at the feeders in the car park. Leaving to the left across the picnic area, the path leads to the recently opened bird hide with views across the wildlife pond towards the sand martin bank. These delightful birds can be seen here in late spring and summer.
The path continues around more woodland interspersed with meadows, each habitat containing a variety of bird species including warblers, woodpeckers and usually a hovering kestrel. There is also an abundance of butterflies and moths during the summer.
Coming back via the large meadows that border the river, the path can be very boggy, which is probably why snipe and jack snipe use this area in the winter.
Kingfishers have also nested by the river and are occasionally seen around the nearby ponds.
With more than 250 animals and over 200 plants recorded here, this park will certainly reward the observant visitor (www.naturespot.org.uk/wild-place/fosse-meadows-sharnford).
Recently, this column has concentrated mainly on animals and plants that can be seen easily around our villages. However, for those prepared to travel just a mile or two, there are reserves that hold a much greater variety of wildlife. Here are just a couple of our local treasures.
Huncote New Hill Nature Reserve
This is situated just outside of Huncote with the entrance at the bottom of Croft Hill. There is limited parking on the roadside nearby, or it is possible to park in the village and walk to the entrance. When you go through the gate you are faced with a choice of where to go; straight on along the river valley, or turn right up the steep steps to the top of the hill. There are more steps further along so you can take a circular route and cover both habitats.
The route along the valley is flat and accessible to all, although further along it is prone to water- logging so wellies are advisable. There are various songbirds in the trees to the right and rabbits in the fields to the left. After around 400 metres the path splits so you can walk either side of the pond, which also has a small jetty that allows you to get close to the water. There are toads here in the spring leaving extensive strings of spawn among the weeds, and several species of dragonfly and damselfly throughout the summer. After the pond is a stretch of raised boardwalk looking over farmland.
At the end of the path you either return the way you came or take a steep climb up the steps to the new hill. Your reward for the climb is the chance to see several species of butterfly in the summer that are rarely seen in our gardens, including Small Copper, Brown Argus and Small Heath. The walk back along the top offers an intriguing view down into Croft Quarry, often in the company of jackdaw, kestrel and, on occasions, a peregrine falcon. The path leads to the steps back to the entrance, although you can walk on safely around the rim of the quarry and onto Croft Hill.
Overall, around 250 species of animal and 100 species of plant have been recorded from the area so I’m sure you will find something to interest you here (see www.naturespot.org.uk/wild-place/croft-hill).
Fosse Meadows Country Park, Sharnford
Just down the B4114, a turn to the left along the old Fosse Way will soon bring you to the car park for Fosse Meadows. Woodland birds, including occasional tree sparrows and bramblings, can be seen at the feeders in the car park. Leaving to the left across the picnic area, the path leads to the recently opened bird hide with views across the wildlife pond towards the sand martin bank. These delightful birds can be seen here in late spring and summer.
The path continues around more woodland interspersed with meadows, each habitat containing a variety of bird species including warblers, woodpeckers and usually a hovering kestrel. There is also an abundance of butterflies and moths during the summer.
Coming back via the large meadows that border the river, the path can be very boggy, which is probably why snipe and jack snipe use this area in the winter.
Kingfishers have also nested by the river and are occasionally seen around the nearby ponds.
With more than 250 animals and over 200 plants recorded here, this park will certainly reward the observant visitor (www.naturespot.org.uk/wild-place/fosse-meadows-sharnford).