This site was established as part of a planning permission and provides new cycle and pedestrian access across the River Soar and onto the Great Central Way.

The site incorporates ‘Ratby Meadow’ which appears to be an old water-meadow with landscape archaeological value as well as ecological interest.  Part of it is also known as ‘The Wethers’ – an old name presumably referring to its use for fattening wethers – i.e. castrated rams.  It is species-rich with Great Burnet and other typical neutral grassland species, plus some sedge-beds.  Pepper Saxifrage is found here, a species usually only found on old grassland.  The site does still flood every few years, and whilst there would have been many examples of this kind of floodplain grassland in the Soar Valley at one time there is very little remaining, so this is an important site.

The site also supports a number of mature ash and willow trees and also several ditches offering a wetter habitat.

Part of the site by the river is designated as a Local Wildlife Site. The long narrow fields to the south are also LWS, but less species-rich.  The River Soar adjacent to the meadow is a LWS too, and reportedly has Water Voles.