This page enables you to search for some of the best places to see wildlife in Leicestershire and Rutland. It's not comprehensive but we will keep adding new sites as we find more suitable sites. If you have a favourite site that you would like to see added, let us know. Did you know we can also set up Wild Place pages for private sites such as gardens, farms and company grounds? More about Wild Places.
To explore the Wild Places of Leicestershire and Rutland:
zoom into the map and click on any site to show its details below
use the filters below to find sites in your district or parish
type any part of the site name to search for a particular site
Just click on APPLY when you have entered your selection. Alternatively you can browse the full list below.
Key:Wild Places (outlined in orange); Public Rights of Way (green); county boundaries (blue), parish boundaries (lilac)
Groby Pool is situated on the southern edge of the Charnwood Forest and is reputedly the largest natural expanse of open water in Leicestershire, covering 38 acres (15 ha). There was no mention of a lake in the Domesday Book, though it has been referred to since 1297. Research into the Lake sediments has confirmed that Groby Pool is of relatively recent origin. It may have resulted from the damming of Slate Brook in the 12th/13th century by the monks from Leicester abbey.
This disused quarry is one of three situated on the Barn Hills which lie on the northern edge of Groby village. The quarries were worked between 1938 and 1940 when they were abandoned because of the poor quality of granite found there.
This disused quarry is one of three situated on the Barn Hills which lie on the northern edge of Groby village. The quarries were worked between 1938 and 1940 when they were abandoned because of the poor quality of granite found there.
The footpath giving access to the bottom of the sites was the original road from Groby to Newtown Linford. In 1796 it was replaced by the current road.
The 4-acre meadow, adjacent to Newtown Linford Lane, was purchased in 2011 by a consortium, made up of residents that bought shares at £200 each and Groby Parish Council. A Community Interest Company (CIC) was set up that now owns the land and aims to:
This 1.5 hectare wood lies adjacent to the disused Groby Granite Railway line at the southern edge of the village. Up to the middle of the 20th century, local villagers would have been employed in either quarrying or farming. The 1980s estate surrounding the spinney was built on farmland and the name of this woodland tells of the previous use of the area.
Edith Hesselgreaves in her 1973 paper 'Flora of Groby Parish' records the following species found in the wood :-
Robert Stephenson was engaged by the Earl of Stamford to engineer a railway line to carry granite from the Earl's quarry in Groby village. Groby Granite Railway opened in 1832 to connect with the Leicester & Swannington Railway near to Ratby. Wagons loaded with granite were transferred onto the L&SR for transport to Leicester West Bridge wharf and onwards by barges on the Old Grand Union Canal.
This verge is now being managed to improve biodiversity as part of the County Council/Parish Council Verges Biodiversity Project. Mowing will cease between April and August to allow the grasses and wildflowers to grow and bloom. In some cases, verges may also have additional native wildflower species added, either as seed or as plug plants.
The verge will be surveyed in June by NatureSpot but we would welcome any wildlife records from the community, whether plants, animals or fungi.
Lady Hay Wood has an area of roughly 8 hectares and lies close to the western edge of Groby Pool SSSI. It is well known locally for its show of Bluebells in the spring.
Edith Hesselgreaves in her 1973 paper 'A Flora of Groby Parish' recorded the following species ;-
This verge is now being managed to improve biodiversity as part of the County Council/Parish Council verges biodiversity trial. It will be surveyed in later in the year by NatureSpot volunteers but we would welcome additional wildlife records from the community, whether plants, animals or fungi.
This disused quarry is one of three situated on the Barn Hills which lie on the northern edge of Groby village. The quarries were worked between 1938 and 1940 when they were abandoned because of the poor quality of granite found there.
The footpath giving access to the bottom of the sites was the original road from Groby to Newtown Linford. In 1796 it was replaced by the current road.
The main route of the Grand Union Canal, built between 1793 and 1814, is from London to Birmingham but it has several 'arms' including that which runs to Leicester and beyond into Nottinghamshire. This is a navigable route and has a public footpath (towpath) along the full length. As with most canals, the shallow water (typically around 1.2m) and shallower edges provides good habitat for emergent aquatic vegetation, which in turn supports a wide range of invertebrates.
The main route of the Grand Union Canal, built between 1793 and 1814, is from London to Birmingham but it has several 'arms' including that which runs to Leicester and beyond into Nottinghamshire. This is a navigable route and has a public footpath (towpath) along the full length. As with most canals, the shallow water (typically around 1.2m) and shallower edges provides good habitat for emergent aquatic vegetation, which in turn supports a wide range of invertebrates.
The main route of the Grand Union Canal, built between 1793 and 1814, is from London to Birmingham but it has several 'arms' including that which runs to Leicester and beyond into Nottinghamshire. This is a navigable route and has a public footpath (towpath) along the full length. As with most canals, the shallow water (typically around 1.2m) and shallower edges provides good habitat for emergent aquatic vegetation, which in turn supports a wide range of invertebrates.
The main route of the Grand Union Canal, built between 1793 and 1814, is from London to Birmingham but it has several 'arms' including that which runs to Leicester and beyond into Nottinghamshire. This is a navigable route and has a public footpath (towpath) along the full length. As with most canals, the shallow water (typically around 1.2m) and shallower edges provides good habitat for emergent aquatic vegetation, which in turn supports a wide range of invertebrates.
This short spur of canal splits from the Leicester arm at Foxton locks and extends into Market Harborough.
The main route of the Grand Union Canal, built between 1793 and 1814, is from London to Birmingham but it has several 'arms' including that which runs to Leicester and beyond into Nottinghamshire. This is a navigable route and has a public footpath (towpath) along the full length. As with most canals, the shallow water (typically around 1.2m) and shallower edges provides good habitat for emergent aquatic vegetation, which in turn supports a wide range of invertebrates.
The main route of the Grand Union Canal, built between 1793 and 1814, is from London to Birmingham but it has several 'arms' including that which runs to Leicester and beyond into Nottinghamshire. This is a navigable route and has a public footpath (towpath) along the full length. As with most canals, the shallow water (typically around 1.2m) and shallower edges provides good habitat for emergent aquatic vegetation, which in turn supports a wide range of invertebrates.
