About the reserve

For the budding botantist, this is a little slice of heaven, with notable plants including pyramidal orchid, autumn gentian, bee orchid, and small scabious. Cowslips, meadow crane's-bill, black and greater knapweed, and toadflax all add to the summer colour of the reserve.

Attracted by the diversity of colour and food in these flowers, there are plenty of summer butterflies to admire, including common blue, large skipper, brimstone and painted lady. The scrub surrounding the reserve is used by a variety of birds; spotted flycatchers have nested here and turtle doves have been heard purring. 

The reserve is also home to a well-developed badger sett. Although you’ll be lucky to see one of these enigmatic creatures, you can look out for their tracks and signs. It was on this reserve that the harvest mouse was rediscovered in Leicestershire in 1964. A small colony of glow-worms has even been recorded!