Croft Hill
Details
Wildlife Highlights
Peregrine Falcon has been noted at this site and there have been rare sightings such as Greenland Wheatear, whilst Buzzard and Kestrel are regulars. The Gorse along the slopes is rich in insect life including the Gorse Shieldbug and Adonis Ladybird, whilst the wetter areas below the hill are populated by dragonflies and caddis flies including the Red-eyed Damselfly which has been recorded at the site. Several of the less common moths and butterflies occur there and a good mix of wild flowers including an unusually large area of the plant Spring Beauty which is local in distribution as a wild flower in our area.
Description
Croft Hill stands 128m high in a largely flat area of Leicestershire. The Hill provides a number of habitats including broad-leaved woodland, scrub land, acidic grassland and two other distinct areas of grassland. The site has been a SSSI since 1956 and forms a natural focus of the passage of spring and autumn birds. It has a good system of paths. For those who are not energetic enough to tale the steps to the top of the hill, there are pleasant walks on well made paths around the base. These include boarded walks in damper areas and a jetty the protrudes out into the lake allowing a chance to look into the shallow water near the edges. Parking is available in various places but is limited.
Latest Records
| Common Name | Latin Name | Date Recorded | Recorded By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood Pigeon | Columba palumbus | 01/12/2011 | Jonesboy1 |
| Carrion Crow | Corvus corone | 01/12/2011 | Jonesboy1 |
| Pied Wagtail | Motacilla alba | 01/12/2011 | Jonesboy1 |
| Magpie | Pica pica | 01/12/2011 | Jonesboy1 |
| December Moth | Poecilocampa populi | 01/12/2011 | Jonesboy1 |
| Fieldfare | Turdus pilaris | 01/12/2011 | Jonesboy1 |
| December Moth | Poecilocampa populi | 30/11/2011 | Jonesboy1 |
| Swallow | Hirundo rustica | 11/10/2011 | Jonesboy1 |
| Sparrowhawk | Accipiter nisus | 03/10/2011 | Jonesboy1 |
| Migrant Hawker | Aeshna mixta | 03/10/2011 | Jonesboy1 |
| Skylark | Alauda arvensis | 03/10/2011 | Jonesboy1 |
| Buzzard | Buteo buteo | 03/10/2011 | Jonesboy1 |
| Linnet | Carduelis cannabina | 03/10/2011 | Jonesboy1 |
| Goldfinch | Carduelis carduelis | 03/10/2011 | Jonesboy1 |
| Greenfinch | Carduelis chloris | 03/10/2011 | Jonesboy1 |
Getting There
The base of the hill runs beside the road that links Croft and Huncote and there are access points at various places along this road. It is fairly easy to reach using either the B4114 and access via the village of Croft or the M69 junction 2 if that is more convenient.
Latest Images
Species List
| Group | Common Name | Latin Name | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bugs | Spear Thistle Lacebug | Tingis cardui | 17/06/2010 |
| Butterflies | Orange Tip | Anthocharis cardamines | 15/04/2012 |
| Butterflies | Brown Argus | Aricia agestis | 09/05/2011 |
| Butterflies | Small Heath | Coenonympha pamphilus | 17/06/2010 |
| Caddisflies | Glyphotaelius pellucidus | 15/05/2010 | |
| Dragonflies | Migrant Hawker | Aeshna mixta | 29/09/2011 |
| Dragonflies | Red-eyed Damselfly | Erythromma najas | 17/06/2010 |
| Dragonflies | Common Darter | Sympetrum striolatum | 29/09/2011 |
| Flies - other | Common Red-legged Robberfly | Dioctria rufipes | 12/05/2011 |
| Flies - other | Eudasyphora cyanella | 12/05/2011 | |
| Flies - other | Sicus ferrugineus | 06/05/2012 | |
| Flies - other | Tachina fera | 29/09/2011 | |
| Flies - other | Terellia ruficauda | 11/06/2011 | |
| Flies - other | Thricops diaphanus | 11/06/2011 | |
| Flies - other | Tipula oleracea | 29/09/2011 | |
| Flies - other | Tipula vernalis | 12/05/2011 | |
| Flies - other | Urophora stylata | 17/06/2010 | |
| Fungi | Brown Puffball | Bovista nigrescens | 29/09/2011 |
| Fungi | Wrinkly Peach | Rhodotus palmatus | 07/11/2006 |
| Fungi | Sycamore Tarspot | Rhytisma acerinum | 29/09/2011 |
| Grasses, Rushes & Sedges | Tufted Hair-grass | Deschampsia cespitosa | 29/09/2011 |
| Grasses, Rushes & Sedges | Plicate Sweet-grass | Glyceria notata | 29/09/2011 |
| Grasses, Rushes & Sedges | Compact Rush | Juncus conglomeratus | 29/09/2011 |
| Grasses, Rushes & Sedges | Timothy | Phleum pratense | 29/09/2011 |
| Grasses, Rushes & Sedges | Common Club-rush | Schoenoplectus lacustris | 11/06/2011 |
| Grasses, Rushes & Sedges | Bulrush | Typha latifolia | 10/04/2011 |
| Grasshoppers & Crickets | Slender Groundhopper | Tetrix subulata | 15/05/2010 |
| Hoverflies | Epistrophe eligans | 12/05/2011 | |
| Lacewings & Scorpionflies | Chrysoperla carnea | 29/09/2011 | |
| Mammals | Stoat | Mustela erminea | 20/07/1994 |