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.

Total species seen at this site: 139

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 Images

Latest Records

Common Name Latin Name Date Recorded Recorded By
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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