Altar Stones
Amongst the heath grassland there is Tormentil, Bilberry and Heath Bedstraw. There are several small ponds and small hollows that are dominated by Soft Rush and Wavy Hair Grass.
The site is located on the outskirts of Markfield, about 13km to the north of Leicester, very near to junction 22 on the M1. Heading towards the M1 on the A50, turn off at the Field Head roundabout and take the second left towards Markfield. Past the village the road turns a sharp left, go straight across onto Altar Stones Lane and the site is on your right.
Total species seen at this site: 168
The site is a rocky hill with rough heath grassland, stone walls and rocky outcrops. It combines the former Altar Stones Country Park with the adjacent Blacksmith's Field (named after the blacksmith's shop that was located on the corner of the site.
Latest records
| Common Name | Latin Name | Date Recorded | Recorded By | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harebell | Campanula rotundifolia | 12/09/2019 | Helen O'Brien 2 | |
| Rabbit | Oryctolagus cuniculus | 12/09/2019 | Helen O'Brien 2 | |
| Mole | Talpa europaea | 12/09/2019 | Helen O'Brien 2 | |
| Dock Bug | Coreus marginatus | 12/09/2019 | Helen O'Brien 2 | |
| Dock Bug | Coreus marginatus | 12/09/2019 | Helen O'Brien 2 | |
| Speckled Wood | Pararge aegeria | 12/09/2019 | Helen O'Brien 2 | |
| Red Admiral | Vanessa atalanta | 12/09/2019 | Helen O'Brien 2 | |
| Winter Groundling | Scrobipalpa costella | 19/08/2019 | Margaret McLoughlin | |
| White-speckled Smoke | Narycia duplicella | 26/02/2019 | Mark Skevington | |
| Rhizocarpon geographicum | 26/02/2019 | Mark Skevington | ||
| Banded Centipede | Lithobius variegatus | 26/02/2019 | Mark Skevington | |
| Asciodema obsoleta | 23/07/2018 | sue | ||
| Platycranus bicolor | 23/07/2018 | sue | ||
| Gorse Lacebug | Dictyonota strichnocera | 22/07/2018 | sue | |
| Blackbird | Turdus merula | 18/07/2018 | Saharima Roenisch | |
