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Knighton Ward is in the south-east of the City of Leicester. The population at the time of the 2011 census was 16,805. The ward covers an area of 415 hectares (1.6 square miles). Knighton Park is a significant area of green open space at the southern boundary of the ward, where it meets with Oadby and Wigston. There is not a lot of public open space in the rest of the ward, but parts of the ward are characterised by large gardens with mature trees, which are gradually being diminished by backland development. Leicester University manages the Attenborough Arboretum, which is a good place to view native and introduced trees and a variety of wildlife. There is a small local nature reserve at the Wash Brook Nature Reserve on the edge of the ward next to the Midland Mainline. Knighton Wild is also involved in the management of St Mary Magdalen Churchyard and Knighton Green. Knighton Green is a small area of grass and woodland on the Wash Brook.
Total species seen in this parish: 1430
Thanks to NatureSpot, Leicester City Council and Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust for supporting the work of Knighton Wild in Knighton.
Welcome to the Knighton Ward page in NatureSpot. Knighton Wild is the local wildlife group in Knighton and exists to encourage people to enjoy and record our local wildlife and improve the local environment for wildlife. News in this section. Upcoming events in the Parish Update section below.
While we are all restricted to spending most of our time at home, why not record the wildlife you see in your garden?
Knighton Wild is running a series of posts on its website with details of what some of its members are seeing in their gardens with suggestions for what you might see and help with identification.
Have a look at the Knighton Wild website and record your sightings here on NatureSpot.
Knighton Wild’s work in St Mary’s Churchyard and on Knighton Green is entered in the It’s Your Neighbourhood scheme run by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Each year an assessor visits us to review progress and make an assessment based around community participation, environmental responsibility and gardening achievement. This is the third year we have been part of the scheme and in previous years we have been pleased to get a grade 3 (improving) but this year we have excelled ourselves and got a grade 5 outstanding!
Knighton Wild members took part in two events for the City Nature Challenge 2019 between 26th and 29th May.
On Saturday 27th, members worked with Friends of Knighton Green to record as many species as possible in Knighton Green, helping to establish a baseline of what is present before the wildflower sowing and other management changes take effect.
Get involved this year with Knighton Wild in meetings and practical activities.
Knighton Wild Facebook Group
Knighton Wild has a new Facebook group where you can share and discuss your local wildlife sightings. Please join us:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/530101604578306/
Record Wildlife in Your Garden
Spending your time at home? Why not record the wildlife you see in your garden. Have a look at the Knighton Wild website for updates from some of our members on what they've seen and identification suggestions and help. You can record what you see on NatureSpot. Why not register if you haven't already?
Birdwatching Walk - Washbrook Local Nature Reserve
Saturday 25th April, 10.00 am-12.00 noon. Cancelled due to the Covid-19 Emergency.
Practical Work on Knighton Green
No activities at present.
If you are interested and have ideas for future local activities then please contact us:
| Common Name | Latin Name | Date Recorded | Recorded By | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speckled Wood | Pararge aegeria | 01/08/2020 | Sally W | |
| Buff Footman | Eilema depressa | 30/07/2020 | AJ Cann | |
| Marbled Minor agg. | Oligia strigilis agg. | 30/07/2020 | AJ Cann | |
| Square-spot Rustic | Xestia xanthographa | 30/07/2020 | AJ Cann | |
| The Dun-bar | Cosmia trapezina | 30/07/2020 | AJ Cann | |
| Sigara falleni | 30/07/2020 | AJ Cann | ||
| Sigara lateralis | 30/07/2020 | AJ Cann | ||
| Small Purple & Gold | Pyrausta aurata | 29/07/2020 | 2jays | |
| Speckled Wood | Pararge aegeria | 29/07/2020 | 2jays | |
| Myathropa florea | 29/07/2020 | 2jays | ||
| Swinecress | Lepidium coronopus | 26/07/2020 | Saharima Roenisch | |
| Small Copper | Lycaena phlaeas | 26/07/2020 | Saharima Roenisch | |
| Curled Dock | Rumex crispus | 26/07/2020 | Saharima Roenisch | |
| Garden Spider | Araneus diadematus | 26/07/2020 | Saharima Roenisch | |
| Dingy Footman | Eilema griseola | 26/07/2020 | AJ Cann | |
| Species group | Total no. of species | Total no. of records | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barklice & Booklice | 5 | 6 | |
| Ferns & Horsetails | 4 | 5 | |
| Amphibians | 4 | 75 | |
| insect - true bug (Hemiptera) | 2 | 2 | |
| insect - hymenopteran | 2 | 3 | |
| Algae, Bacteria, Virus | 2 | 4 | |
| Slime Moulds | 2 | 2 | |
| Silverfish | 1 | 1 | |
| Thrips | 1 | 1 | |
| millipede | 1 | 1 | |
| Mayflies | 1 | 1 | |
| Lacewings & Scorpionflies | 1 | 2 | |
| insect - beetle (Coleoptera) | 1 | 1 | |
| Earwigs | 1 | 2 | |
