Site No. 3 - The Soar Valley Gravel Pits
OS Landranger 129 & 140
A chain of lakes and ponds set within a variety of habitats including woodland, meadows, scrub and reedbeds, formed by flooded gravel workings along the River Soar and Grand Union Canal to the north of Leicester. The complex can be roughly divided into four sections, from north to south: Cossington, Wanlip, Birstall and Watermead.
PLEASE NOTE: We are now using the new standardised names for the Soar Valley.
» Download LROS map showing new site names (pdf file)
Site Access
Cossington Meadows LRWT Reserve
Access from Syston Road, between Platt's Lane, Cossington, and the A6. The area can be very muddy at times, especially in winter.
Cossington South Lakes
Cossington South GP can be viewed from the layby on the B5328 Rothley - Cossington road at SK 601 130. From here a footpath leads past two pits to the canal towpath and then south to Wanlip GP. The area between Cossington and Wanlip South is mostly private.
Watermead Country Park North/Wanlip Meadows/Watermead Country Park Birstall
Access to Watermead Country Park North is off Fillingate in Syston: follow signs for from the A46 or Syston village to reach the car park (£1.00 fee) at SK 606 106. This is the start of Leicesterhsire County Council's Watermead Country Park, and footpaths cover the whole area. Wanlip Meadows, complete with new bird hides, is easily accessible from here, and it is possible to walk south to the Birstall section. Alternatively, park in the car park at the end of Meadow Lane in Birstall (SK 602 096). Again, there are well-marked footpaths covering the whole area, and two bird hides.
Watermead Country Park South
The southern section is owned by Leicester City Council. Park in the free car park off Alderton Close (SK 603 086, signposted from the A607 just before the Watermead pub) and follow the footpaths around the lakes. There are three bird hides.
Site Details
Cossington Meadows LRWT Reserve
This area has only recently come to the attention of birders for its exceptional birding potential, so odonata recording here is in its infancy. The pools and ponds are worthy of exploration; the site is relatively new so emergent vegetation is not a prominent feature, although there is a well-vegetated, mature 'moat-style' pond at the northern edge of the site which could prove interesting. Species that prefer muddy-edged 'new' sites, such as Black-tailed Skimmer, should be around, and if anywhere in the county could host Small Blue-tailed Damselfly...
Cossington South Lakes
A collection of more mature, steep-sided lakes, primarily used for angling. Again, the odonata potential has not been explored fully, but several species will be found easily. This tends to be one of the less productive sites in the area for birding.
Watermead Country Park North/Watermead Country Park Birstall
Potentially the most interesting part of the valley for odonata, with many species recorded. Areas of particular note include the reed-fringed Crake Pool, the Finger Lakes, and a small pond in-between King Lear's Lake and the River Soar. The river here is also productive and worth a look. The new habitat at Wanlip Meadows, between the Finger Lakes and Wanlip village, is also worth checking. Birding in the area is often good, with the Crake Pool and Wanlip Meadows receiving most attention.
Watermead Country Park South
The Nature Reserve lake is probably more productive than the main lake, but both are worthy of exploration, as is the river here. The best areas for viewing are the southern and western edges of the Nature Reserve lake, the northern edge of the main lake, and the boardwalk at the western edge of this lake.
River Soar
Many sections of the river are attractive to dragonflies, especially in the Wanlip/Birstall and Watermead South areas.
Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal joins or splits from the River Soar at several points running through the area. Usually less productive than the river, it is still worth checking in suitable looking places.
Dragonfly status around the site
Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens
Very common along the River Soar throughout the area, especially at Watermead Country Park North. Also regularly encountered anywhere within a short distance of the river, often in areas of long grass.
Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa
Recorded occasionally in the area in suitable habitat, but by no means abundant.
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Reasonable numbers can be encountered anywhere in the area.
Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans
Very common throughout the area.
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum
Very common throughout the area.
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella
Very common throughout the area.
Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma najas
Somewhat variable in its abundance, but in some years it can be encountered in good numbers on floating vegetation at the Crake Pool, Finger Lakes and adjacent River Soar at Watermead Country Park North, and occasionally in other areas of the site.
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis
Common to very common throughout the site. Especially abundant around the Crake Pool at Watermead Country Park North.
Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea
Fairly common anywhere around the site.
Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta
Sometimes abundant anywhere in the area.
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator
Small numbers can often be found, especially around the Watermead Country Park North and Birstall sections.
Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa
Fairly common anywhere in the area.
Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
Fairly common in less vegetated parts of the site, such as Watermead Country Park South, the Wanlip Meadows, and parts of Watermead Country Park Birstall.
Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata
Small numbers occasionally may be found anywhere in the area, but are most likely in the Watermead Country Park sections.
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum
Very common anywhere in the area.
Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum
Fairly common throughout the site.
» Download LROS map showing new site names (pdf file) |
