Things to do in Syston, Leicestershire

A network of scrapes and wet meadows, Wanlip is the ideal place to try your hand at birdwatching. The wetland supports a number of birds throughout the year, but the winter and spring are our favourite times to visit – wrap up warm for winter for wildfowl, and explore in summer for wading birds, which adore the muddy edges to the scrapes.

This wetland haven is worth visiting all year around, but comes alive in the winter, when rafts of ducks, like wigeon and teal, gather on the lakes, and short-eared owls hunt over the meadows. Wrap up warm enjoy a brisk winter walk to one of the best wildlife spots in the Soar Valley.

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.

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.

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!

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 – and if you’re lucky, you might even see a kingfisher!

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.

Managed on behalf of the National Trust, this tiny mixed woodland is the perfect place to indulge in a spot of tree hugging – what’s the oldest tree you can find? Listen out for drumming woodpeckers and calling nuthatches or pop a sweet blackberry in your mouth in autumn.

Ownership of this reserves is split between the Wildlife Trust and the National Trust, however the Wildlife Trust has managed both areas since 1966. A real gem in the heart of Charnwood Forest, this reserve offers a wide variety of habitats to explore. Whether you’re a birdwatcher, a botanist or just looking for a nature reserve to really explore, Ulverscroft is the perfect place to get away from it all for a few hours.

For stunning views across the Leicestershire countryside, yet nestled in the suburbs, look no further than Altar Stones nature reserve. Perched atop a rocky hilltop, it is said that during World War II, you could see the bombing of Coventry – 30 miles away!

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.

Narborough Bog is a unique reserve for Leicestershire and Rutland; over 6,000 years old, this reserve is a hotbed for wildlife in suburbia, with habitats including fen meadow, wet woodland and reedbed. Over 130 bird species have been recorded here, including kingfishers, tawny owls and all three species of woodpecker!

Tilton Railway Cutting is a little slice of ancient history! A real-life Jurassic world (except with no dinosaurs), this reserve is managed as much for its geology as for it’s wildlife, 200 million years of history can be seen in the exposed rock layers.

A mosaic of woodlands in the heart of Charnwood, this ancient, broadleaved woodland is bursting with wildlife. In the spring, you can enjoy a spectacular display of bluebells. Enjoy woodland birds all year round, including Nuthatch, Treecreeper, woodpeckers and Tawny Owls.