Things to do in Gotham, Nottinghamshire

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, with interesting birds making their homes along the river.

One of the most magical things about visiting Wymeswold Meadows is the sense of seclusion you get when you step through the gates. The river is deeply cut, and, despite being so close to the road, this is the perfect spot for immersing yourself fully in the wild.

Tom Long’s Nature Reserve (formally known as Tom Long’s Meadow) is a narrow corridor of land approximately 600m in length and no wider than 75m. The area is made up of mosaic of wet grassland and wet woodland habitats, perfect for amphibians, wildflowers, woodland birds, butterflies and dragonflies.

Cloud Wood has long been known as one of the best sites in Leicestershire for flora, with over 220 recorded species of ferns and flowering plants recorded! Look out for some interesting and beautiful orchids, violet helleborine, greater butterfly orchid, bee orchid and broad-leaved helleborine.

This innovative reserve is part of the Soar Valley floodplain system. Originally agricultural fields, harvested for maize, grazed by cattle and used as grassland in their recent history, we are now allowing nature to take back control. This is perfect for both people and wildlife, as we hope that this floodplain reserve will help to protect the homes and livelihoods in the area, by soaking up rainwater in times of flooding. This also creates ideal conditions for plants and animals to thrive.

At nearly 200 hectares, this beautiful nature reserve abounds with ancient history, atmosphere and wildlife. Grasslands support an array of butterflies in the summer, whilst the woodlands burst with birdsong in the spring, and turn fiery golden in the autumn. Prominent 600 million-year-old Precambrian rock outcrops protrude through the surrounding marl and other Triassic deposits.