GU Canal, Leicester to Wigston
Selected Wild Place / Other Wild Places / Public Rights of Way / VC55 boundary
This stretch of the canal can be reached in the north via Everards Meadow, just off Soar Valley Way. To the east access is from Little Glen Road in Glen Parva.
- Canal
- Grand Union Canal Conservation Area
Total species seen at this site:
The main route of the Grand Union Canal, built between 1793 and 1814, is from London to Birmingham but it has several 'arms' including that which runs to Leicester and beyond into Nottinghamshire. This is a navigable route and has a public footpath (towpath) along the full length. As with most canals, the shallow water (typically around 1.2m) and shallower edges provides good habitat for emergent aquatic vegetation, which in turn supports a wide range of invertebrates.
Through Leicester the canal and River Soar intertwine, merging in some parts, but from this section southwards the canal is separate.
The White-legged Damselfly can be found along this stretch. Kingfisher and Grass Snake have also been recorded.
The records and images below may include those from adjacent sites if the grid reference submitted with these records overlaps the boundary of this Wild Place.
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