Lucas' Marsh

This wonderful, if tiny, wildlife haven is just a few miles from Leicester City Centre – urban nature brought to life. The diversity of habitats, including a scrubby area for nesting birds, in such a small space attracts an array of wildlife – it’s worth popping in a few times throughout the year to see what else has turned up!

Location

Brocks Hill Country Park, Washbrook Ln, Oadby, Leicester
LE2 5JJ

OS Map Reference

SP 620998 (Sheet 140)
A static map of Lucas' Marsh

Know before you go

Size
2 hectares
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Entry fee

Free
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Parking information

Park in the visitor centre car park

Access

The reserve is part of Brock's Hill Country Park, Oadby. Go through the gate to the left of the Centre entrance and walk down the track. The entrance to the reserve is through another gate on the right. There is an intermittent boardwalk with steps on/off.  

Dogs

No dogs permitted
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Facilities

Visitor centre
Toilets
Shop
Cafe/refreshments
Accessible toilet
Baby changing facilities

When to visit

Opening times

Always open

Best time to visit

Spring

About the reserve

This is a top spot to indulge in some real urban birding, just a few miles from the city centre. There’s plenty to see all year around – in the spring, look (and listen!) out for robins, wrens, chiffchaffs, song thrushes, blackcaps, willow warblers, bullfinches and great spotted woodpeckers. Moorhen and kingfishers have also bred here. In the summer months blue-tailed and large red damselflies can be seen around the two large ponds. You might also spot small tortoiseshell, peacock, speckled-wood, orange-tip and ringlet butterflies visit the reserve. The marsh itself has stands of greater willowherb and common reed, as well as blunt-flowered rush, water figwort, ragged robin and meadow sweet. A stand of large ash trees, thick mature hedges and scattered guelder-rose bushes provide ideal shelter in the winter for blackbird, fieldfare and redwing. If you need to warm up, Brocks Hill Country Park visitor centres has a cafe, shop and facilities.

Environmental designation

Local Nature Reserve (LNR)