Charnwood Lodge NR
Details
Wildlife Highlights
Holly blue and green hair-streak butterflies can be seen, usually in May. A variety of moorland species of moths are also known to occur, including the fox moth, neglected rustic and glaucous shears. Tree pipits are present in the spring and summer while the woodland supports several species of warbler. All three species of woodpecker occur, although the lesser spotted is rare. Two species of ferns grow here, lemon-scented fern and hard-fern, and are found at few other sites in Leicestershire and Rutland. There are also several rare species of sedge.
Description
The reserve is owned by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust and covers 193.5 ha. Most of the reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and part was declared a National Nature Reserve in 2000. Note that significant areas of this important and sensitive nature reserve have no public access. Other areas have limited access to LRWT members and other permit holders only.
Habitats include planted oaks and other mixed woodland, acid grassland, heath grassland (called moorland by some), with occasional sphagnum dominated wet areas, a small reservoir and a number of small ponds.
Latest Records
| Common Name | Latin Name | Date Recorded | Recorded By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowhammer | Emberiza citrinella | 13/04/2012 | Rod Baker |
| Kestrel | Falco tinnunculus | 13/04/2012 | Rod Baker |
| Green Hairstreak | Callophrys rubi | 01/04/2012 | Stuart Desjardins |
| Ling | Calluna vulgaris | 01/04/2012 | Stuart Desjardins |
| Climbing Corydalis | Ceratocapnos claviculata | 01/04/2012 | Stuart Desjardins |
| Wood Sage | Teucrium scorodonia | 01/04/2012 | Stuart Desjardins |
| Bilberry | Vaccinium myrtillus | 01/04/2012 | Stuart Desjardins |
| Dotted Chestnut | Conistra rubiginea | 24/03/2012 | Mark Skevington |
| Aethes cnicana | 03/06/2011 | Mark Skevington | |
| Apotomis turbidana | 03/06/2011 | Mark Skevington | |
| Red-necked Footman | Atolmis rubricollis | 03/06/2011 | Mark Skevington |
| Cochylis nana | 03/06/2011 | Mark Skevington | |
| Cydia cosmophorana | 03/06/2011 | Mark Skevington | |
| Northern Spinach | Eulithis populata | 03/06/2011 | Mark Skevington |
| Incurvaria praelatella | 03/06/2011 | Mark Skevington | |
Getting There
The reserve lies 3 km east of Whitwick and 3 km north of Copt Oak, to the west of the M1. LRWT members can use their membership cards as permits for the restricted areas. There are marked paths around the reserve and all visitors are requested to keep to these. LRWT members and other permit holders can access the reserve from Abbey Road (on the east side about 0.5 km from the Forest Rock Public House junction). Cars should be parked on the side of the farm track. Other visitors can access the reserve from the Warren Hills Road where there is limited parking in the layby.
