Breedon Hill SSSI
Selected Wild Place / Other Wild Places / Public Rights of Way / VC55 boundary
Parking is available at the top of the hill by the church. There is also limited parking by Breedon village green. (It is more interesting to walk up from the green)
Though suffering from scrub encroachment, since pony grazing ceased, some scrub clearance and grazing had been initiated and the site was recovering. Hawthorn scrub is now returning. There is also a great deal of Stachys byzantina and various Cotoneaster shrubs spreading over the site. The site needs grazing much more regularly to preserve the interesting flora.
2024 visits show the site in a poor state. It has huge areas of encroaching scrub and deep banks of nettles. This is disappointing as it is an SSSI and a previously lovely place to visit. Many of the attractive limestone plants have virtually disappeared.
Excellent news! A visit during March 2025 showed that Breedon Group have employed contractors on the site to remove most of the encroaching scrub and clear the site of debris. The hill looks a little the worse for wear from heavy tyres. It will be fascinating to monitor the site over the next few years to view its recovery.
Regular grazing will really be essential for the health of the grassland flora and fauna.
Huge thanks are due to the Breedon Group for actively managing the SSSI in their care.
A visit on 28th July 2025 revealed a flock of sheep grazing the coarse grass and opening up paths through it. Sustained grazing is what this site needs to recover its wildlife interest. This is a very hopeful development.
Site species count:
Breedon Hill is the largest area of species-rich carboniferous limestone grassland in Leicestershire. The site has been dug for limestone for a very long time and is full of hummocks and dips. It has an interesting limestone flora and superb views. There are the remains of an iron age hill fort, though part of it has been quarried away.
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