Soar-GUC, Ratcliffe to Trent
Selected Wild Place / Other Wild Places / Public Rights of Way / VC55 boundary
This stretch of the waterway can either be walked as an extension to the stretch between Kegworth and Ratcliffe (see separate wild place) to the south making an 8 mile round trip, or by parking at Redhill crossing the hump-backed bridge over the Canal and then the footbridge over the weir to join the Leicestershire bank. From this point one can walk in either direction, north to the Trent confluence or, south to Ratcliffe on Soar, each comprises a round trip of 1.5 - 2 miles.
Trends and Recent Developments along the navigable watercourse from Leicester to the Trent are as follows
A colony of the Scarce Chaser Dragonfly was discovered near Ratcliffe on Soar in 2016, with 12 individuals present in 2018. The nearest other sightings in VC55 are at Rutland Water.
The Willow Emerald Damselfly was first reported in VC55 in 2019 at the Eye Brook Reservoir Inflow and then from Watermead. This species is likely to spread to the whole Soar Valley in next 2-3 years. Most sightings are in September, the species prefer overhanging willows which are abundant.
Garden Angelica has spread northwards through much of the Soar Valley in recent years, the large globe-shaped flower-heads of this umbellifer are distinctive.
Corbicula flaminea, The Asian Clam is an accidentally introduced species speading south along the Soar Valley.
Please be sure to report any sightings of these species
Site species count:
This wild place covers the navigable watercourse on its northernmost stretch of 2miles from Ratcliffe on Soar to its junction with the River Trent. A continuous footpath follows the western (Leicestershire) bank of the River. There is a single lock at Redhill [SK492305] adjacent to a farm, caravan park, cafe and a boatyard. After periods of heavy rain, especially in winter months, this route may become very muddy and at times impassable due to flooding. With the county boundary in the mid-stream position along the River please ensure any records you enter refer to sightings within Leicestershire and their grid references plot within the county.
Birds
Herons, Cormorant, Kingfisher, Common Tern, Grey Wagtail. Swift, House and Sand Martin and Swallow.
Trees and Plants
Willow family several species, Alder, water meadows rich in flowers and grasses.
Water Margins: Purple Loosestrife, Indian Balsam. Garden Angelica (recent colonist), Lesser Celandine, Marsh Thistle, Marsh Woundwort, Water Mint, Water Figwort.
Aquatics: Arrowhead, Water Plantain, Floating Pennywort (a nuisance) and Yellow Water-lily (consult individual species pages for flowering season and known distributions)
Insects
Butterflies all common widely distributed species, Dragonflies Southern, Brown and Migrant Hawker, Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmer, all 3 Chasers and Ruddy and Common Darters. Damselflies Beautiful Demoiselle, Common Blue, Blue-tailed, Large Red and Red-eyed Damselfly (favours lily pads). (Look at individual species pages for flight seasons)
Molluscs Giant Ramshorn, River Snail, Swan and Duck Mussel plus the invasive Zebra Mussel and Asian Clam (centre picture above).
Fish Perch, Pike, Tench and Roach
The records and images below may include those from adjacent sites if the grid reference submitted with these records overlaps the boundary of this Wild Place.
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