Ratby Disused Railway

Details


Wildlife Highlights

The shady areas and rough borders provide habitat for a range of wildflowers and invertebrates. Greater Burnet Saxifrage grows near the motorway bridge as does a patch of Reeds. Common Valerian grows along the track where it borders the grazing fields. The brook adds further interest and supports a number of specialist water plants such as Water Speedwell, Water Crowfoot and Water Starwort. Banded Agrions flit along the brook in the summer months.

Total species seen at this site: 25

Description

This stretch of disused railway line runs between Ratby and Glenfield. Though the original line is broken by an industrial estate a connecting path joins up the two parts. For most of its length it runs parallel with the Rothley Brook and the section that flows under the motorway is included in this site. Much of it is shaded by overhanging trees but in places there is a grassy flora and the bordering field margins add further interest.

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Latest Records

Common Name Latin Name Date Recorded Recorded By
Anomalous Bristle-moss Orthotrichum anomalum 14/01/2012 David Nicholls
Physcia aipolia 14/01/2012 David Nicholls
Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum 09/07/2011 David Nicholls
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus 09/07/2011 David Nicholls
Honey Bee Apis mellifera 09/07/2011 David Nicholls
Fool's Water-cress Apium nodiflorum 09/07/2011 David Nicholls
Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris 09/07/2011 David Nicholls
Common Water-starwort Callitriche stagnalis 09/07/2011 David Nicholls
Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra 09/07/2011 David Nicholls
Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria 09/07/2011 David Nicholls
Liocoris tripustulatus 09/07/2011 David Nicholls
Common Bird'sfoot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus 09/07/2011 David Nicholls
Ribbed Melilot Melilotus officinalis 09/07/2011 David Nicholls
Water Forget-me-not Myosotis scorpioides 09/07/2011 David Nicholls
Green-veined White Pieris napi 09/07/2011 David Nicholls

Getting There

In Ratby, the start is next to the Railway Pub, though the first stretch of line is then brokem by a road that cuts across.

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Species List


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Group Common Name Latin Name Last Seen
Bees, Wasps, Ants Honey Bee Apis mellifera 09/07/2011
Bugs Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum 09/07/2011
Bugs Liocoris tripustulatus 09/07/2011
Butterflies Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus 09/07/2011
Butterflies Green-veined White Pieris napi 09/07/2011
Lichens Physcia aipolia 14/01/2012
Mosses & Liverworts Anomalous Bristle-moss Orthotrichum anomalum 14/01/2012
Moths Udea lutealis 09/07/2011
Wildflowers Fool's Water-cress Apium nodiflorum 09/07/2011
Wildflowers Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris 09/07/2011
Wildflowers Common Water-starwort Callitriche stagnalis 09/07/2011
Wildflowers Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra 09/07/2011
Wildflowers Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria 09/07/2011
Wildflowers Common Bird'sfoot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus 09/07/2011
Wildflowers Ribbed Melilot Melilotus officinalis 09/07/2011
Wildflowers Water Forget-me-not Myosotis scorpioides 09/07/2011
Wildflowers Greater Burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella major 09/07/2011
Wildflowers Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla reptans 09/07/2011
Wildflowers Common Water-crowfoot Ranunculus aquatilis 09/07/2011
Wildflowers Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica 09/07/2011
Wildflowers Upright Hedge-parsley Torilis japonica 09/07/2011
Wildflowers Common Valerian Valeriana officinalis 09/07/2011
Wildflowers Brooklime Veronica beccabunga 09/07/2011
Wildflowers Pink Water-speedwell Veronica catenata 09/07/2011
Wildflowers Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca 09/07/2011