Leicester City Council - Local Nature Reserves

Local Nature Reserves

Purpose and definition

LNRs can be declared by Local Authorities in areas over which they have jurisdiction, using powers under Sections 19 and 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, in consultation with Natural England (formerly English Nature). LNRs can only be declared by Local Authorities on land which they own or have a legal interest in. The power of de-declaration, should the land be required for other purposes, also rests with the Local Authority, again after consultation with Natural England.

LNRs are defined in the NPAC Act as being 'land managed for the purpose of providing . . . special opportunities for the study of . . . the flora and fauna of Great Britain and the physical conditions in which they live, and for the study of geological and physiographical features of special interest in the area; or of preserving flora, fauna, or geological and physiographical features of special interest; or for both of these purposes.'

Ideas have changed a little since then, and Natural England now recognise that one of the main function of LNRs is the opportunity they give people to become involved in practical nature conservation work and in caring for wildlife and their local environment.

The formal designation as a LNR demonstrates the Council's commitment to environmental sustainability and to biodiversity conservation. All the sites are managed for people as well as for wildlife, and the proposed LNRs are some of the best places in the city for people to enjoy and learn about wildlife. The LNR designation can open the door to grants for improvements to nature conservation, public access, use and raising environmental awareness.

All the sites are managed by the City Council or Groundwork Leicester and Leicestershire (formerly Environ), with the help of volunteers from the local community and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV).

LNRs in Leicester

Seven of Leicester's best wildlife sites are formally declared as Local Nature Reserves.

*site*	*Grid ref.*	*(nearest)* *Post code*	*Date declared*	*Area (hectares)*
Kirby Frith	SK541045	LE3 6UL	November 1989	2.0
Aylestone	SK572015	LE2 8NG LE2 8TD LE3 2BD	April 2003	79.7
Humberstone Park	SK620052	LE5 4DN	April 2003	2.4
Knighton Spinney	SK606008	LE2 3YT	September 2003	2.9
Goss Meadows	SK567066	LE4 0FL	April 2004	3.0
The Orchards	SK566062	LE3 9EA	February 2004	6.6
Watermead South phase 1	SK600083	LE4 7RN	March 2005	48.7
Watermead South phase 2	SK600083	LE4 7RN	Proposed*	18.7
TOTAL				164

*This land is in Charnwood District. LNR legislation requires that we enter into a legal agreement first with Charnwood Council, before declaration.

Kirby Frith LNR has some of Leicester’s best and richest grassland, with abundant wildflowers. It can be reached from Ryder Road, off Scudamore Road, and is next to Western golf-course. It is managed by the City Council.Contact: 0116 254 8451

Aylestone Meadows LNR is noted for its flower-rich meadows and marshy grasslands formed in the floodplain of the River Soar and the Biam. It is a wedge of open land reaching into the heart of the city from the countryside to the south, and is easy to reach from the City Centre by following the Great Central Way or the Grand Union Canal and Riverside path. It can also be reached from carparks at Aylestone Mill and Canal St, off Aylestone Road, or from Marsden Lane in Aylestone village, or from Evesham Road in Rowley fields. It is managed by the City Council, with the help of the BTCV and the council’s own herd of the traditional Leicester rare breed of Longhorn cattle! Contact: 0116 229 4249

Knighton Spinney LNR is a popular feature of Knighton Park, full of woodland birds, wood anemones and other wildflowers. It is managed by the City Council and Groundwork, helped by local volunteers who open the woodland up to visitors at weekends. It is reached from the carpark off Palmerston Way. Contact: 0116 222 0235

Humberstone Park LNR includes the Greenlife Nature Reserve and the Rally Bank. It is an important haven for wildlife in the eastern part of the city. They are very good for woodland and garden birds, and both have attractive woodland walks. They are managed by Groundwork with the help of volunteers. The sites are reached from the Humberstone Park carpark off Uppingham Road. Contact: 0116 222 0235

Goss Meadows and The Orchards LNRs are managed by Groundwork and volunteers. Goss Meadows is a strip of species-rich grassland alongside Anstey Lane, which may once have been a drover's road for livestock coming into Leicester's markets. It supports several unusual wildflowers, such as Spiny Restharrow. The Orchards used to be allotments, and still supports some old fruit trees, but it is now developing into woodland. The sites are in the Anstey Green Wedge, which is a large area of green space between Beaumont Leys and New Parks, and includes Gilroes Cemetery and Gorse Hill City Farm as well as the Nature Reserves. Contact: 0116 222 0235
Watermead South LNR includes the southern end of Watermead Country Park, Birstall Meadows and Watermead Ecology Park.   The sites are at the northern end of the Riverside green corridor through Leicester, and can be reached from the riverside path and National Cycle Route 6.
Watermead Country Park is noted for its wetlands created on former gravel pits.   The two lakes and the reedbeds and marsh are the best place in the city to see waterbirds and wildfowl. Occasionally rare migrant birds turn up and the reserve is a magnet for birdwatchers.   It is managed by the City Council with the help of Groundwork and volunteers. It can also be reached from the carpark on Alderton Close.
Birstall Meadows across the River Soar from Watermead are flower-rich damp meadows grazed by cattle or horses and regularly flooded in winter. They are important as a feeding area during winter for water birds such as geese and waders. There is a good view of them from the towpath on the other side of the river, but apart from a public footpath from Birstall Road to Netherhall Lane they are not accessible to the public.
Watermead Ecology Park is a secluded site along the Riverside near Belgrave, and is managed by Groundwork and volunteers. Surrounded by woodland is an attractive and tranquil pool, which is noted for its aquatic life such as kingfisher, amphibians and dragonflies.   It is reached from the end of Oakland Avenue.
Contacts: 0116 229 3631 (City Council) and 0116 22 0235 (Groundwork)

Potential new LNRs

Leicester’s BAP is proposing the following sites as LNRs:

*site*	*Grid ref.*	*(nearest)* *Post code*	*Area (hectares)*
Stokeswood Park	SK568057	LE3 9RR LE3 9BS	12
Highway Spinney and Meynell’s Gorse	SK543036	LE3 6UL	8
Willowbrook	SK637048	LE5 2ED	6
Braunstone Park meadow	SK546036	LE3 1JT	3
Ethel Road verge and ponds, Evington Park	SK624036	LE5 6DE	1.5
TOTAL			30.5