Nature Reserves

Visit a special wild place near you

Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust manages over 35 nature reserves covering over 1,200 hectares of rich, diverse and beautiful habitats. From woodland to meadows, wetland to heaths, our nature reserves comprise some of the most important wildlife and geological sites in the counties. As well as containing varied, interesting and even rare wildlife species, our nature reserves are hugely important places for people to visit and enjoy, and appreciate outstanding wildlife. We hope you love them as much as we do.

Explore the links below to find out more.

Help us keep our nature reserves good for wildlife and good for people

  1. Stay on waymarked paths 
  2. Put rubbish in bins or take it home with you
  3. Don't start fires or barbeques
  4. Be careful of nesting wildlife
  5. Remember nature reserves are special places for wildlife
  6. Please check each reserve page for individual dog policies as not all our reserves allow dogs on site. We kindly ask that dogs are kept on leads at all times to minimise any disturbance to wildlife 

Thank you for helping us keep our nature reserves wild! Enjoy your visit. 

Parking

We are introducing What3words to all our listed nature reserves on this page. Please note that there may be different What3words addresses for parking and the reserve entrance. Check the parking information separately from the location information on the relevant reserve page and follow any parking instructions, including parking considerately for other road users. Please note that not all of our nature reserves have car parks. We encourage the use of public transport, walking, or cycling wherever possible.

Thank you and enjoy our reserves!

A verdant green field bursting with a plethora of plant life. The grassland is dominated by small yellow flowers under blue skies. Part of a tree comes into view from the righthand side of the photo, framing the field beyond. Sunlight bathes the view in a golden glow. A wooden fence can be seen in the distance, stretching across the entire length of the photo, and is lined with trees and more plant life.

LRWT

Spotlight Reserve

James Adler Reserve

The newly acquired James Adler Reserve strengthens our presence in the south of Leicestershire. With exceptional opportunities to further rewild and enhance the landscape, this special place holds enormous potential for biodiversity improvement for the community of Market Harborough and beyond to enjoy.

As the reserve is still undergoing habitat and infrastructure improvements, there will be a phased approach to opening access. Please refer to the 'About the reserve' section of the James Adler Reserve page for further information.

Welcome to James Adler Reserve

Filters

36 results

Great Merrible Woods (c) Andy Neilson

Great Merrible Wood

Bluebells, badgers and woodland birds: what more could you want from this beautiful woodland? Adjacent to Eye Brook Reservoir, the reserve is bursting with wildflowers, mammals and birds, and is…

Holwell Reserve

Holwell Reserves

Enjoy a walk at Holwell Reserves, disused quarries, with a mixture of grassland, woodland and exposed rock faces create a peaceful atmosphere throughout the year. A special place for bats,…

A verdant green field bursting with a plethora of plant life. The grassland is dominated by small yellow flowers under blue skies. Part of a tree comes into view from the righthand side of the photo, framing the field beyond. Sunlight bathes the view in a golden glow. A wooden fence can be seen in the distance, stretching across the entire length of the photo, and is lined with trees and more plant life.

James Adler Reserve

The newly acquired James Adler Reserve strengthens our presence in the south of Leicestershire. With exceptional opportunities to further rewild and enhance the landscape, this special place holds…

Kelham Bridge Nature Reserve

Kelham Bridge

This nature reserve may be relatively young, but it is already bursting with life. Just a few miles from Ibstock and Coalville, this is the ideal place to escape the area’s industrial heritage.…

Cowslips on grassland, close to some trees

Ketton Quarry

Ketton Quarry is very much still a working limestone site, but parts of the area have been reclaimed by nature. Grassland, scrub and woodland are starting to creep back in, making the most of the…

Launde Big Wood (c) Andy Neilson

Launde Big Wood

Launde Big Wood occupies the western half of Launde Woods and is one of the largest and most significant semi natural ancient woodland in the East Midlands. Walking beneath the canopy of ancient…

Woodland bathed in green, with a dirt track running through the centre of the woodland. Carpets of Bluebells and Wild Garlic are on either side of the track. A barbed wire fence is to the left past the trees, with grassland beyond, just out of frame.

Launde Park Wood

Launde Park Wood forms the eastern half of Launde Woods, and has been carefully restored to a semi natural ancient woodland state. Parts of the wood were once a Western Red Cedar plantation, an…

A lush green woodland in springtime, with a grassy ride cutting through the centre. Blue skies can be seen between the trees, and small pink flowers peak through the dense shrubbery which lies on both sides of the border of the ride.

Launde Woodlands

Made up of two of the most ancient woodlands in Leicestershire, stepping into Launde Woods is like stepping back in time. Oak, Ash, Hazel and Field Maple dominate Big Wood to the west, whilst Park…

Lea Meadows

Lea Meadows

Lea Meadows is a beautiful, diverse and historical nature reserve, teeming with wildflowers and birds. The meeting of meadows, woodland and a meandering stream make for a peaceful, wild experience…

Loughborough Big Meadow (C) LRWT

Loughborough Big Meadow

Loughborough Big Meadow is just that – a diverse 45ha site of herbrich hay meadow. The meadow has been used for flooding as long as records exist, and this has led to a beautiful wildflower meadow…

36 results

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