Site No. 8: Grantham Canal

Click here for a map of the area

The Grantham canal was built in 1797 and was closed to boat traffic in 1936. Apart from small sections it is non-navigable. It supports a variety of wildlife, including serveral dragonfly species. It is owned by British Waterways www.britishwaterways.co.uk. A Site of Special Scientific Interest is found between Harby and Redmile.

 Site Access

The canal sections in Leicestershire are best reached by A46 or A606. The canal can be accessed from the minor roads in the area at Harby, Plungar, Barkestone-le-Vale and Redmile. There are patches of excellent habitat along the length, but the best area is around Barkestone-le-Vale. From the direction of Plungar (on Plungar Lane), take the first left in the village of Barkestone, which is Jericho Lane, and park at the bridge at the end of the road. Explore in both directions. For more information visit waterscape.com.

 Site Details

This is one of the best dragonfly sites in Leicestershire & Rutland, but considering its quality it remains relatively under-watched. The major attraction used to be Variable Damselfly, this being the only regular site in the county. However, in 2004, Hairy Dragonfly invaded the county and Grantham Canal was the easiest place to see this species. It's also one of the most reliable places to see most of the other species on the county list, and is worth a visit at any time of the season. An early visit, any time from mid-May to early July, is required for Hairy Dragonfly. Variable Damselfly can be found any time from late April to mid-August.

 Dragonfly status on the site

Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens
Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum
Variable Damselfly Coenagrion pulchellum
The only regular site in the county for this species. It is usually found quite easily anywhere along the canal.
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella
Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma najas
A reliable site for this species, especially between Redmile and Barkestone-le-Vale.
Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense
A female was seen ovipositing at Barkestone-le-Vale in 2002, and in 2004 was positively added to both the Grantham Canal and Leicestershire & Rutland list as a regularly occurring species.
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis
Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea
Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator
Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa
Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum
Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum

Left: Male Hairy Dragonfly (Richard Rogers).
Right: Variable Damselfly - top: male (Steve Houghton), bottom: female (Tom Holliday)

 For further information:

British Waterways, The Kiln, Mather Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 1FB
Tel: 01636 704481