BRIDLE ROAD SPINNEY/PINE SPINNEY

Bridle Road Spinney

Pine Spinney/Bridle Road Spinney 2007

On the maps this spinney is shown as Bridle Road Spinney but Anthony Cooper, the farmer of Southfield Farm, always refers to it as Pine Spinney. See the description further down in the text for an explanation.

This spinney is covered by a Group Tree Preservation Order. It is on private land and there is no public access.

Bridle Road Spinney was last surveyed in 1988 and the following were recorded:

This is a spinney of mixed woodland with the following species recorded:

Fraxinus excelsior (Common Ash)
Larix sp. (Larch)
Quercus robur (Common Oak)

The above was taken from a field by field survey of Rothley Parish carried out July-September 1988 by P.A.Evans.

On the 4th August 2007 I met Anthony Cooper and checked out the name of the spinney and surprised to find out that it was always referred to as Pine Spinney when the pines were not very obvious.

With permission to enter, the name was found to be most suitable but time had taken its toll. It must have been mainly Scots Pine that were originally planted as many were in an advanced state of decay, many fallen and others propped up by Oaks and Ash. You would not be able to tell from a distant view that pines would have been the main tree and the name Pine Spinney does seem to be the best description. When the pines have finally returned to the spinney floor it should be remembered as Pine Spinney as part of our history.

In addition to the Scots Pine there are Oaks and Ash mainly with girths of 1.5-2metres with abundant understorey of elder, hawthorn and holly. The ground flora included Sweet Violet, Herb Robert, Wild Arum, Red Campion, Hedge Woundwort and Fern sp.

An old map shows the spinney to have been planted in 1884.