WILDLIFE SITES IN ROTHLEY

Since recording the natural history of the parish one site has been recorded as a Wildlife Site but still awaiting official designation.

This is a field bordering the Rothley Brook, it does not have public access, is very boggy and should not be entered without permission and understanding of the terrain.

In August 2003 we observed 5 Snipe in the muddy margins, also mallard and Moorhens with young. This site had a lot of promise. Up to 8 Snipe were there in September 2003.

A survey of the vegetation had been carried out in 1995 but needed to be updated to assess its potential as a Wildlife Site.

A visit was made in early June 2003 where we observed swallows and house martins collecting mud for their nests. Scattered over a wide area we found Ragged Robin and Marsh Marigold so this was a good start to our survey.

After a year of observations Neill Talbot, Conservation Officer for the Leicestershire Wildlife Trust, made a detailed list of species and within 30 minutes had sufficient to ensure its Wildlife Site status.

Grassland meets the primary criteria due to the number of indicator flora species.
There is a permanently wet area in the centre of the field which is more of a marshy area than a pond.
The Rothley Brook borders the field and this meets the primary criteria as it contains the following features:
Riffle and pool system
Gravel substrate
Earth cliff eroded by water course 1m+ high
It also contains meanders.

FLORA AND FAUNA SPECIES

Field woodrush
Meadow buttercup
Sorrel
Red clover
Marsh Marigold
Cuckoo flower
Sedge-hairy
Rush-soft
Greater birdsfoot trefoil
Ragged robin
Creeping buttercup
Meadow foxtail
Creeping thistle
Daisy
Common mouse-ear
Dandelion
Thyme-leaved speedwell
Spear thistle
Cleavers
White clover

Wavy bitter-cress
Ground ivy
Brome
Meadow grass
Stinging nettle
Cow parsley
Dock
Yarrow
Water-cress
Fool's water-cress
Brooklime
Celery-leaved buttercup
Silverweed
Garlic mustard
Reed sweet-grass
Floating sweet-grass
Lesser celandine.

A good flow of water comes from the higher ground and feeds the marsh.

The Rothley Brook area:

Swallow
Heron
Moorhen
Mute swan
Blue damselfly
Brown trout

The grassland is not overgrazed and the farmer has been involved since the first visit.

An Ancient Ash on the field boundary with a girth of 3.2m.

To finalise the designation as a Wildlife Site approval is now being sought from the land owners.

(Information at April 2006)