LEI Country

Areas not in use

The following areas, shown on the map in a lighter shade of green, are currently not in use. There may be access problems or they may be new areas that are not ready for use yet. Click on any of the areas for further details.

Leicestershire West	Leicestershire East and Rutland	Northamptonshire
Alton Grange Bardon Hill Billa Barra Charnwood Lodge Church View Cliffe Hill Quarry Gisborne's Gorse Lawn Wood Spring Wood Thornton Reservoir Timberwood Hill Warren Hills Wicket Nook	Burley Woods Launde Woods and Park Owston Woods Rutland Water Wardley Woods	Brampton Woods Brookfield Plantation Geddington Chase Grafton Park Woods Harlestone Firs Lady Wood and Titchmarsh Old Head Wood Pipewell Woodlands Rockingham Castle Southwick Woods St Johns Wood Stanion Woods Sywell Wood
Other areas not shown on the map
Buddon Wood Conkers Loughborough University Markfield Tops Park Pale Wood Sheet Hedges Wood Vale Farm	Melton Mowbray Country Park	Badby Woods Bucknell & North Hazleborough Hunsbury Hill Lings Wood Oundle Woods

Alton Grange

Comprising Roecliffe & Breach Woods, situated on either side of busy roads and adjacent to existing woodland, these two blocks of mixed conifer and broadleaves make a significant impact on the landscape driving along the A511 into Ashby from Coalville. Nature conservation is a focus of the site. A large area of hay meadow has been created next to the road and a series of pools and scrapes created down the eastern edge of Roecliffe Wood. In Breach Wood, wet woodland consisting of willow and alder has been planted next to Demoniac Plantation. Parkland style planting next to Roecliffe Farm creates a more open feel to this part of the wood. It is relatively newly planted in areas and we have not as yet pursued any orienteering potential.

The area is about 75 hectares in size and has been created on former farmland.

Bardon Hill

This is the highest 'B' in Leicestershire. Standing above the lowland areas are four prominent hills, Bardon (the highest point in Leicestershire at just over 900 feet), Breedon on the Derbyshire border, Beacon to the east, and Burrough in the west. There are numerous other hills beginning with the letter B for no apparent reason.

(Bardon, Billa Barra, Beacon, Bradgate, Burrough, Breedon, Budden, Billesdon Coplow, Benscliffe, Burley on the Hill, Bomb Rocks and the hill on which Belvoir Castle stands.)

It was thought that there was an iron age hill fort at the summit of Bardon Hill but nothing of it remains indeed not much of the hill itself remains.

In medieval times to ensure a plentiful supply of game for hunting purposes, the monarch and nobles established reserves called parks. These were areas of countryside that were considered to be on agriculturally inferior soil, often attached to a manor and which often contained woodland. Parks varied immensely in size, from a few acres to the size of the giant park of Whitwick Manor, which covered Bardon Hill and which extended over the surrounding area to over 1260 acres.

However, by about 1427 it had been reduced to a smaller area around the summit of Bardon Hill but a small collar of woods on the southern flank is all that survives today.

Bardon has strong historical involvement in the life of the county up to fairly recent times. The 19th century development of the Leicestershire quarries of Bardon Hill owes much to the initiative and resourcefulness of the affluent local yeomanry of the higher class, as represented by the Ellis, Everard and Pochin families; nonconformist in their religious sympathies and liberal in their politics.

The earliest known printed reference to quarrying at Bardon Hill dates back to 1622. The commercial development of Bardon Hill stone, however, was made possible by the opening in 1833 of the Leicester and Swannington Railway, the first steam-worked public railway conveying both passengers and freight in the Midlands. The success of the line was largely due to the initiative and enterprise of the Ellis family of Beaumont Leys, who were active Quakers. George and Robert Stephenson were consultants in building the railway and at its opening the first train carried banners promising cheap coal and granite, warm hearths and good roads. The granite for the good roads was to come from Bardon and other local quarries. Ellis Park in Glenfield commemorates the Ellis family, Everards are still brewing and Pochin are well known in construction.

The Leicester and Swannington Railway prospered and in 1845 it was purchased by the Midland Railway and the Ellis influence expanded correspondingly. John Ellis became MP for Leicester, Mayor of the borough, and Chairman of the Board of the Midland Railway. Glenfield featured in the early development of the railway with the tunnel, opened in 1832, the then longest in the world

The Everards made their home at Bardon Hill House. The affairs of the Bardon estate at this time were in some disarray, and in 1864 it passed into the hands of William Perry Herrick of Beaumanor who renegotiated the lease of Bardon quarry to Ellis and Everard. The quarry was now developed and mechanised and workmen's cottages were built and a school provided, both at the joint expense of Ellis and Everard and the Perry Herrick's. Eventually they added a parish church and John Breedon Everard, the architect of the school, houses and church became a partner in the firm of Ellis and Everard and was responsible for the design of the then magnificent Bardon Mill House.

Much of the money underpinning these families came from the quarrying which continues to this day and whilst the summit of Bardon Hill is protected not much remains of the north side of the hill. The summit area has been landscaped together with areas to the NE and a collar of mature woodlands gives the area some potential for smaller events.

Billa Barra

This small area of rock and surrounding meadow shows part of the rim of an ancient volcano which is a regionally important geological site due to its rock outcrops of Markfieldite.

It is near to Stanton under Bardon and just off the busy A511 near junction 22 of the M1, with views across to Bardon Hill, the highest point in Leicestershire. This small but remarkable site was bought for The National Forest by Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council in 1996 and is a local nature reserve covering nearly 50 acres and providing a variety of habitats including grassland - ideal for ground nesting birds such as skylarks. There is a specially created wildflower area that was planted creating magical flower-filled meadows on the hillside each summer.

It has public access and can be linked to Altar Stones and Cliffe Hill Quarry by the footpath network but we have not mapped it or sought permission for orienteering there.

Part of the hilltop has been identified as Open Country under the CRoW Act.

Brampton Woods

About 200 acres in size between Market Harborough and Corby, this is a fairly uninteresting block of woodland for our purposes and whilst we are aware of it if we ever need another location in this area, it is very low priority at present.

Brookfield Plantation

At 500 acres or thereabouts this remnant of the Rockingham Forest has been eaten into by urban, transport and industrial development. It lies along the southern scarp edge of the River Welland Valley and separated by grasslands from Rockingham Castle and Park.

The provenance of this area is problematical and early enquiries failed to ascertain who was responsible for it. Locals talk of informal access in the past but obvious entrances are now secured. It apparently has a diverse and successful ecology and has featured in numerous reports about the green infrastructure around Corby. From what can be deduced it seems to have good landforms with some history of quarrying and large redundant railway cuttings.

Given that we have numerous locations in the vicinity and that most Northamptonshire woodlands are very similar we have not pursued this possibility. If we loose any other areas in the district and have an influx of members living near enough to help service events there we may reconsider this prospect

Burley On The Hill

Overlooking Rutland water, this hill top woodland has been mapped but not used for many years. It has been through the hands of numerous owners some with fairly colourful reputations. Our last map was drawn in 1979 and will obviously have been overtaken by changes on the ground. There has been talk of residential development within the buildings and possible office accommodation but the present circumstances are not known. It is a target for re-activation and any information will be welcome.

Charnwood Lodge

One of the most attractive areas in Leicestershire and one where we would hope to be able to establish our presence is that know generally as Charnwood Lodge. The area covered by the reserve was originally part of the Charnwood Forest 'wastes' and the now familiar stone walls were erected during the enclosure period, followed by a period of afforestation and drainage. As the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust's largest land-based reserve and one of the biggest nature reserves in the Midlands, it is subject to apparently conflicting considerations.

The reserve is owned by the Trust and covers 227 ha. Most of the reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and it was also declared a National Nature Reserve in 2000.

It seems unlikely that C4 events will be permitted, but if we can find time to map the area we may be able to use it for small training events and hopefully thereby earn the trust of the L&RWLT. It is the Trust's stated intention to maintain Charnwood Lodge as a quiet, wild place and they aim to keep activity to a minimum both in terms of their own management and interference and organised activities by third parties. It is however now access land and new signs were put to inform people that this reserve is now open to the public through the Countryside and Rights of Way Act. Quite apart from its potential for our use and the truly great views it enjoys particularly from Bomb Rocks it is also a wildlife haven, hence its sensitivity.

In 2006/7 the following species were sighted; Peregrine, Snipe, Jack Snipe, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Wheatear, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Willow Warbler, Raven, Yellowhammer, Lesser Redpoll and Common (Mealy) Redpoll not to mention numerous more common species. A White Admiral butterfly was an unusual visitor and the Essex Skipper was also added to the reserve list. In addition a family of 5 Stoats, including 3 young, was seen near the Bomb Rocks. 30 bat boxes have been provided and last spring 6 had bats in them. Five were occupied by a total of over 50 Pipistrelle and one had a Brown Long-eared in it. A further 9 boxes had bat droppings in them. Habitats include planted oaks and other mixed woodland, acid grassland, heath grassland (called moorland by some), with occasional sphagnum dominated wet areas, a small reservoir and a number of small ponds.

Grazing is the most important management tool used to contain coarser grasses and scrub birch which would otherwise eradicate the smaller and more vulnerable species to be found in certain areas. Selected bracken-covered areas are cut by hand or machine and although this policy has to be maintained regularly to show any significant effect, the results are impressive. In much of the woodland the spread of rhododendron is a menace and large areas have been cleared. Colonisation by sycamore is also a problem and several large trees have been removed to prevent the spread of seed: native species will be planted in place of the sycamore. In the longer term it is intended to remove some of the denser conifer stands and replace them with a more varied and interesting tree canopy although the presence of some conifers enhances the woodland habitat, particularly for birds.

Charnwood Lodge is actually the largest area of wild land remaining in Leicestershire. The access land, identified as Open Country by the Countryside Agency, occurs in three separate parcels which are of differing potential use to us. There is also a forth parcel not available to us and Oaks in Charnwood adjoins the site. (See also Warren Hills, Timberwood Hill, Gisborne's Gorse and Oaks in Charnwood)

The part we know as Charnwood Lodge is actually know to the Trust as The Rough and is now open to the public and includes Bomb Rocks commanding great views out over Charnwood. Among the most striking features of the reserve, these prominent 600 million year old Precambrian rock outcrops protrude through the surrounding Keuper Marl (Mercian Mudstones) and other Triassic deposits. The famous 'Bomb' rocks - porphyroid 'Bombs' buried in the agglomerate rock which attract attention from geologists nationwide, have led to the reserve being declared a National Nature Reserve. The Rough is also part of an SSSI and this large compartment is bisected by a small stream that usually dries up in summer. It is an area of acid grassland with a stream lined with silver birch, and there are good fern populations along the banks, including mountain fern. Marsh violet is locally frequent.

Either side of the stream are extensive stands of bracken, while large open areas with abundant purple moor-grass also occur. Heather and bilberry are occasional, with rarer species such as petty whin, creeping willow and western gorse. To the south of the stream silver birch is locally frequent, and there is a wet, flushed area present with many locally rare plants such as lesser skullcap, creeping forget-me-not and bog pimpernel. A shallow, fenced pond is present by one of the metalled roads through the site, and has some bog mosses and blunt-flowered rush around the margins.

There is a breeding population of tree pipits present and this is a ground nesting bird that has declined sharply both nationally and locally over recent years.

Church View

This is former farm land sloping down to a stream where some water features were created and planted out in 2001 with help from the National Forest. Largely commercial poplar with some broadleaves, we are currently mapping it for use when it matures.

An existing but neglected field pond has been restored, a new one created and an avenue of rare black poplars planted. The site has been designed to afford views to the distant Swepstone Church

This large (100 acres) scheme is a most attractive scheme in terms of its wide range of woodland habitat types that will be created. It is 300 yards from the Odd House Pub which has a large car park and caravanning field and should be able to host events. The aims of the scheme are to enhance the landscape giving seventy acres of mixed broadleaved woodland, ten of commercial poplar, four of native wet woodland, an orchard (three acres) and a grassland area of a similar size. The site is visible from the Measham to Swepstone Road, two footpaths that bisect the site and from nearby Swepstone. They will allow access to 94% of the site, excluding the orchard and the grassland next to Valley Farm.

Swepstone itself is situated on a high point over looking the valley of the River Gilwhiskaw from its confluence with the Mease. The church is situated on this high point and gives commanding views of the valley

Cliffe Hill - Markfield

Cliffe Hill Quarry is the largest quarrying operation in our region and has its own rail link.

Whilst there have been quarrying operations since the 19th Century at Old Cliffe Hill Quarry, Markfield, it was in the late 1980's that the construction and commencement of operations at New Cliffe Hill Quarry began. It is the old quarry that we have had our eyes on for some time.

The quarry currently produces 4.5 million tonnes of Markfieldite granite aggregate per year. Cliffe Hill has won awards for its attention to its environment and has done considerable landscaping round the old quarry. Local youths have long used the lake for swimming and the cliffs for climbing despite the best efforts of the security companies.

There are walks around and through the area but limited tree cover and as such we are not actively pursuing the potential for our sport at the present time. There are however a number of new National Forest planting sites nearby and eventually these may all be mapped together.

Geddington Chase

This is part of the Boughton Estate in Northamptonshire owned by the Duke of Buccleuch one of Britain's biggest landowners. At about 600 acres, Geddington Chase is the third biggest ancient wood in Northamptonshire and was formerly part of the once extensive Royal Forest of Rockingham. The bulk of the Chase is now commercially re-afforested but an SSSI defines the biggest block of remaining semi-natural broadleaved woodland.

The site is a good example of the wet ash-maple woods of the Midland boulder clay areas, a type which has declined significantly in the county in the last 40 years. In places the original coppice-with-standards structure is well preserved and elsewhere oak-ash high forest provides a contrasting habitat.

The tree canopy is predominantly oak and ash over a mixed scrub and coppice layer of hazel, Midland hawthorn, field maple, blackthorn, dogwood and grey willow. The ground flora is typically diverse including wild daffodil which is rare in Northamptonshire, but occurs here sparsely. The whole complex supports a wide range of common birds and insects.

The area is crossed by numerous rides and rearing of pheasants and shooting takes place.

We have met with the estate manager in the past to explore possibilities but did not take it further as we have numerous other areas in the district which is remote from our heartland.

(See also Old Head Wood and Grafton Park wood)

Gisborne's Gorse

This is one of the parcels of land within the Charnwood Lodge National Nature Reserve. Gisborne's Gorse, the largest area of woodland on the reserve, was planted during the later part of the 19th Century and is mainly mixed oak, sycamore and spruce, although a number of exotic species such as coastal redwood, wellingtonia and various pines are to be found in certain areas. This was one of the earliest reserves to be established by the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust, and was formally held under a management agreement with Miss C E Clarke, who owned considerable areas of land in the parish of Charley. On her death the land now comprising the Charnwood Lodge Nature Reserve passed to the Trust. The bequest was subject to a number of conditions reflecting Miss Clarke's wishes that the area be maintained with the minimum of disturbance. We have no right of access to this block.

Grafton Park Wood

This is part of the Boughton Estate in Northamptonshire owned by the Duke of Buccleuch on of Britain's biggest landowners. This is just south of Brigstock and to the east of Boughton House itself and just separated from Old Head Wood by a minor road and a short stretch of farmland. Grafton Park Wood is about 400 acres in size and is open to the public. The two woods are also separated by a disused airfield which could be an ideal event base. It was in fact a base during the war for American bomber squadrons.

The House is 15th century and was modelled on the palace at Versailles and is home to the Duke of Buccleuch

The wood is by Grafton Underwood a charming little village of long standing. The village is referred to in the Domesday Book as Grastone, the name derived from Old English meaning "homestead in the Grove".

The 'Underwood' was added in the 18th century, and possibly relates to the nearby Grafton Park Wood, which is a part of old Rockingham Forest.

Grafton is cut by numerous rides and is typical of most of the woodlands of that area. If we ever felt the need for another such event area it is one well worth considering if we could access Old Head Wood as well

Harlestone Firs

This is part of the Althorp Estate, much commercialised since death of Diana and access charges are now prohibitive. Our map is very stale given recent fellings. Some areas of heathland in the vicinity have not been planted over, mainly on the Northamptonshire County Golf Course, and patches of heathland survive among the conifer plantation of Harlestone Firs, both on the rides and emerging after blocks have been clear-felled. The re-emergence of rare woodland plants unrecorded for 100s of years, at Harlestone Firs suggests that there is a rich seed source still surviving under the plantation areas. There are also areas of mature woodland within the wood.

Althorp Park itself is also home to a number of splendid ancient oaks. Althorp, located seven miles west of Northampton and home to the Spencer family for around 500 years, is probably best known because of the late Princess of Wales. The house, which includes outstanding collections of paintings, ceramics and furniture, is set in 55 acres of undulating parkland. It is the Princesses final resting place.

Lady, Souther & Titchmarsh Woods

The area was first used in 1977 but not for some years. It is under mixed ownership but all managed by Forest Enterprise, our access is resisted by tenants with 'sporting' rights and when lost to us we moved activities to the nearby Fermyn Woods & Brigstock Country Park. We have an old but out of date map.

The area is made up of typical rather boring 'Northamptonshire' plantations. The combined area if available to us and including Fermyn would cover 506 hectares of which 438 is owned by the Forestry Commission.

Launde Woods & Park

This area, which would be ideal for us, is actually in three blocks; two of woodland and the other the parkland in between. Launde Big Wood covers 40.4 ha and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, whilst Launde Park Wood extends over 54.4 ha. Both are ancient woodlands, include two SSSIs and were leased by the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust in 1997 from the Leicester Diocesan Board of Finance for a period of 350 years. It is 450 acres in size overall.

We made early overtures but these were not well received but now that the Trust knows where they are going with these areas we may well make a further approach.

Rich in history and wildlife, Launde contains an old priory set in parkland, a possible Norman motte and bailey castle site, medieval fish ponds (now re-flooded) and the earthworks of a medieval deer park.

The priory of Launde was founded some time before 1125, and lay within the royal forest of Leighfield. In 1248, shortly after the forest was reduced in size, the prior was granted licence to 'impark'. Launde Park Wood now stands on part of the site formerly occupied by the deer park and there are some very impressive earthworks to be found in and around the wood. Both the Park Wood and the Big Wood are very old, with massive boundary earthworks, huge coppice stools clearly centuries old, and many plants known to be confined, or nearly so, to ancient woodlands sites.

The Big Wood is situated on a hill top, with superb views of the surrounding countryside. Its soils are mainly heavy and calcareous, being derived from various clays, but there are also better drained areas resulting from deposits of glacial sand and gravel. While a fine high-forest structure is developing in this wood, the fauna and flora of more open woodland has suffered since coppicing ceased to be practiced, and the rides have become narrow and more heavily shaded.

Park Wood is now larger than the Big Wood, the latter having been reduced in size in the last 150 years or so. The woods stand on similar geological formations, and this is reflected in their flora and vegetation. Park Wood contains the same range of plants as the Big Wood, and is the best wood in Leicestershire not protected by SSSI status.

About two-thirds of the Park Wood has been clear-felled and planted with a mixture of trees, especially conifers, but much of the original vegetation still remains. The wood is a very large one in a Leicestershire context, but its nature conservation interest has suffered greatly in the last 50 years. Many of the rides have become narrow and overgrown, and the coppice has been neglected. There is a real challenge here to restore it as an ancient woodland, and to use it to encourage other woodland owners to do the same.

The Trust has started to reintroduce traditional management to these woods, to benefit wildlife. Ride, glade and coppicing work will create valuable habitats for many birds, plants and insects, and the setting will provide and ideal opportunity to demonstrate to people how landscape history has influenced wildlife. Visitors are able to participate in practical work, guided walks and educational visits, learning about the history and wildlife of Launde.

The Big Wood is dominated by stands of oak, ash, hazel and field maple. Many other trees are present, including elm and aspen. The ground flora is very rich, providing magnificent displays in the spring. Wood anemone, bluebell, wood-forget-me-not, sweet woodruff, early-purple orchid and primrose are just a few of the more attractive species, while rarer ones include bird's-nest and greater butterfly-orchids, nettle-leaved bellflower, herb paris and toothwart.

Mammals include fox, badgers, rabbits, stoat and weasel, whilst nightingale and nuthatch have been noted amongst the birds. Purple and white-letter hairstreaks are amongst the butterflies present.

Despite much of the Park Wood having been planted with conifers, it still retains many of the same features of interest as the Big Wood. These are best seen in the northern third of the wood, which escaped planting. However, where conifers have been removed the ground flora is now recovering with the spread of species such as ramsons, sweet woodruff and primrose. Towards the end of the summer the rare fragrant agrimony can be found growing beside the main ride.

The area surrounds Launde Abbey which is the Leicester Diocese Retreat & Conference Centre and is on the border of Leicestershire & Rutland. In addition to the parkland and woods it has extensive cultivated gardens and the 12th Century Chapel. The Chapel is all that remains of the Augustinian Priory that was founded here in 1119 AD.

Once the major changes being undertaken settle down we have ambitions to try and get some use of these lands in an area where we are otherwise short of possibilities.

Lawn Wood

This block of undisturbed woodland was used for orienteering, many years ago despite active quarrying in the middle. When it changed hands Lefarge withdrew permission and now it is worked out and being used for landfill.

We still have the old map and sufficient woodland remains to be very useable but in today's health & safety concerned era our last approach drew a blank.

Old Head Wood

This is a part of the Boughton Estate in Northamptonshire, owned by the Duke of Buccleuch one of Britain's biggest landowners. Just south of Brigstock it lies to the west of Grafton Park Wood and north of an abandoned WW2 US air force base. Not open to the public it is about 450 acres in size and could be used in conjunction with Grafton Park Wood if we wish to pursue woodland in this area

Owston Woods

Forestry Commission lease much of this wood which includes areas of ancient woodland including a famous coppiced small leave lime many hundreds of years old. Some parts of the wood are owner occupied. Admission is by arrangement only except a single right of way. Owston Woods is representative of ancient semi-natural woodland that has developed on heavy clay soil. Owston Woods is the largest continuous area of ancient semi-natural woodland in Leicestershire (approximately 141 ha) and is one of only three sites in Leicestershire that supports purple small-reed. It has a diverse and sensitive damp-woodland plant population and intrusion is resisted.

Pipewell Woodlands

Probably about 250 acres in size this is a typical block of fairly tangled Northamptonshire woodland and given that it is a distance from our heartland and we have a number of similar and larger areas in the district we have not as yet pursued this prospect. It is in the ownership of several parties possibly as many as 6. Part is leased by the Forestry Commission but they lease their area from one of the other smaller owner occupiers. We have his details and he would be the first point of contact if we decide to make enquiries

Rockingham Castle

On a hill previously occupied by Iron Age, Roman and Saxon tribes, Rockingham Castle towers above the picturesque village of Rockingham. Because of its location in the heart of the hunting grounds of Rockingham Forest, it was a popular retreat for royalty in medieval times and for Charles Dickens some time later. Historic parks and gardens are characteristic of the Rockingham Forest landscape. Rockingham Castle itself is located on the upper slopes of the scarp; it overlooks the valley of the River Welland and is separated by grasslands, from Brookfield Plantation. Views from the castle extend across the Welland Valley and over at least four counties.

Rockingham Castle Park which is believed to date to the 13th century boasts over 200 species of trees and shrubs, many of which are rare and has a number of fine examples of veteran trees.

There is little settlement or development within the valley bottom and it retains a quiet rural character, with arable and pastoral farming the predominant land use. Areas of permanent pasture often contain remnant areas of ridge and furrow. Hedges divide the landscape into a neat patchwork, although within the floodplain, post and wire fences are often used to delineate individual fields. The steep scarp that defines the northern side of the valley, together with the extensive woodlands that extend across and at the top of the scarp, intercept and screen views to Corby and the large structures within the industrial districts.

We have a limited number of members in the area and as a result events are both expensive to organise and modestly supported so we have not as yet pursued this potential additional area.

Rutland Water

The flooded valley has the character of a basin, with the flat expanse of water surrounded by generally low, gently sloping hills to the skylines. For the most part, Rutland Water is unobtrusive from many of the surrounding roads as a result of the undulating topography and high level of tree cover around its shores. However, from certain vantage points extensive views across the water to the surrounding slopes are gained. The openness of this huge mass of water is significantly softened by the presence of the Hambleton peninsular. Varying water levels produce a changing shoreline landscape. Established, pre-reservoir trees and woodland and subsequent planted planting and landscaping, combine to provide a detailed mosaic of pasture and woodland on the shores and all the variety we need for orienteering.

We have mapped and used pockets round the Water and started a programme to map the whole area but access and linkage problems persist and the completion of this project is now low priority.

The Water can be over seen from either Burley on the Hill which is mapped but we do not use at present and from the area the other side of the lake from the area which we know as Oakham Tops.

Southwick Woods

This is large, leasehold Forestry Commission woodland of about 800 acres. Original enquiries determined that a shooting tenant does not welcome other users and given its distance from our heartland and the numerous other opportunities in the area we have not as yet pursued it.

It is a pity as much of this ancient woodland site is very interesting although a good part of it was replanted to replace elm trees felled in the late 1960s following the spread of Dutch elm disease. It now contains a mix of deciduous species such as oak, ash, field maple and hazel. The developing woodland provides food and cover for a range of visiting species including willow warbler, coal tit, woodcock and tawny owl.

At the entrance, remnants of the original woodland with its large impressive oaks provide an important source of dead and dying wood for a wealth of insects and fungi. The rides through the wood are typically for Northamptonshire; very wet as the underlying ground is boulder clay. They are still rich in wildflowers including ragged-robin, cuckooflower, meadowsweet, soft rush and twayblade. Butterflies are abundant, as are speckled wood, gatekeeper and comma butterflies fluttering up and down the grassy rides or in the sometimes sun-drenched glades.

Spring Wood

This is a small part of Staunton Harold Estate where we have long had permission to map and use for small training events. It adjoins Staunton Harold Reservoir and is on the border with Derbyshire. Conflicting interests with field archery groups who use it has deterred us from taking this up.

St John's Wood & Bedford Purlieus

This wood is amazingly varied, with many different wildlife habitats as the geology of the woodland changes from north to south. This makes it a fascinating place to visit. Bedford Purlieus is also full of archaeological features, such as wood banks, and the remains of a large roman dwelling place.

This large block of superb woodland is about 208 hectares in size and is owned by the Forestry Commission. It is partially mapped as they were happy for us to use it but the map was aborted when English Nature objected after the area was classified as a National Nature Reserve. It is actually just inside Cambridgeshire but not far from Fineshade.

Bedford Purlieus is an historic ancient woodland in the 'Soke of Peterborough'. The wood was declared a National Nature Reserve by English Nature in 2000, in recognition of its importance as a species-rich semi-natural native woodland. The wood is home to more plant and insect species than most other woods in this country. The wood is now open for quiet recreation which they seem to feel excludes us.

Stanion Woods

This is a fascinating smallish piece of woodland with a mysterious ownership. By itself it would barely do for a training event but could be linked through Laundimer Wood to Old Dry Hills if permission could be obtained.

It is a complex area of former iron ore extraction lines very much like Irchester, long neglected and now heavily wooded. It probably used to belong to British Steel and then possibly their residual authority but we have not been able to establish who owns it at present and neither could the Sports Development Officer at Corby which is close by.

Stanion Lane Plantation and the nearby South Wood are subject to threat from transport routes but are also being promoted for areas to be brought into properly managed woodland facility for Corby. Under the circumstances and given that we cannot get permission for Laundimer Woods we are just keeping a watching brief on these woodlands.

Sywell Wood & Park

Lying peacefully between the Northamptonshire villages of Ecton and Sywell, Sywell Country Park is a mixture of mature woodland, sheep-grazed meadows and the enclosed waters of an Edwardian reservoir.

Built to supply water to Higham Ferrers and Rushden, The 236 million gallon (28 hectare) reservoir and waterworks opened in 1906. This use ended in the early 1980s but today's country park still contains reminders of the reservoir's working past. The waters and banks of the reservoir are a welcome wildlife refuge for birds such as terns, kingfishers and swans. Different habitats within the park are managed for the benefit of other wildlife; native butterflies in the butterfly Garden and wildflowers such as bluebells in Hayes Wood.

We have an old map of the area which we inherited from NVO when it folded but have not used the area for some time.

Thornton Reservoir

Thornton Reservoir lies in a quiet, picturesque valley and was opened to the public by Severn Trent Water in 1997. This was achieved with support from the National Forest Company, Rural Development Council, Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council and European funding. A surfaced track goes all the way around the reservoir and into the woodland on the north shore. The trout fishery is open to the public and the water is home to a variety of wildfowl. The new visitor centre resembles an upturned boat to reflect the fishing interest on the site.

Paths have been created through the woodlands and leave the site at several points but the overall area is too small and too remote from other woodlands to be useable for orienteering. There are however several National Forest funded pockets nearby and as they mature it may be possible to link them in via the footpath network to create an area big enough overall.

Timberwood Hill

This is part of the Charnwood Lodge National Nature Reserve. It was declared a National Nature Reserve in 2000 in recognition of its importance, including part of Timberwood Hill. The area is also a SSSI.

Timberwood Hill is a prominent landscape feature in Charnwood Forest. At its highest point it is 249m (about 809 feet) above sea level. The Pre-Cambrian rocks give rise to thin, acid soils, with numerous rock outcrops. Boundaries consist of dry stone walls, and a dilapidated wall traverses part of the hill.

Bracken forms extensive stands and there are scattered specimens of oak and rowan. Silver birch is more frequent, with numerous saplings on the southern slope, and birch woodland is well developed along the eastern boundary. The slopes of the hill are steep, boggy in places and are littered with boulders and dense stands of bracken. In the remaining open areas a good heath-grassland flora is still to be found. Bilberry is especially abundant on the top of the hill; as is cross-leaved heath in a wet flush to the east, but both occur elsewhere. Sphagnum mosses are frequent in the bog, and other species found on the hill include heather, heath rush, toad rush, wavy hair-grass, western gorse, mat-grass, climbing corydalis, star sedge, wood sage, purple moor-grass and heath bedstraw. Wood-sorrel is to be found in the shade of rocks and walls.

The invertebrate fauna of the hill is important in respect of spiders and beetles. Both groups are thought to be well represented. Butterflies include a good colony of green hairstreaks and other fauna includes a population of breeding tree pipits, a ground-nesting bird that has declined sharply both nationally and locally in recent decades. The meadow pipit is another ground-nesting bird species that breeds here. Badgers use the hill for foraging.

Present management consists of rolling and hand cutting of bracken, scrub removal and summer grazing by cattle.

Timberwood Hill is now open to the public and a permissive path has been created to link it to The Rough, another parcel of the reserve. (see also Warren Hills, Charnwood Lodge, Gisborne's Gorse & Oaks in Charnwood)

Wardley Wood

This is an interesting prospect of 180 acres off the A47 approaching Uppingham, an area where we have few opportunities. This small wood is an ancient woodland on a hillside in the undulating hills of Rutland where muntjac deer, fox and badger find refuge. Wardley Wood is famous for its display of bluebells in early May as well as its shrubs, wildflowers and wet valleys where rare opposite-leaved golden saxifrage grows. Numerous birds and other creature thrive including long tailed tits, lizards and butterflies.

It is bordered by interesting pasture land including a motte and bailey and steep slopes running off Castle Hill, but shooting tenants mean we cannot get access at the present time but we will keep trying.

Warren Hills

This is part of the Charnwood Lodge reserve parts of which were declared a National Nature Reserve in 2000 in recognition of its importance, including part of the Warren Hills. The area is also a SSSI and is listed in the Geological Conservation Review as a Caledonian Igneous site.

The higher ground along the ridge is of a short, heath-grassland type, with plants such as wavy hair-grass, heath bedstraw, heather and bilberry. Rock outcrops hold numerous lichens and the green hairstreak butterfly occurs in large numbers.

To the north of the ridge the ground is lower lying and is dominated by bracken and purple moor-grass, although both bilberry and heather are present, and silver birch saplings are locally frequent. Creeping willow is present and curlews have bred in the past.

The lower Warren Hills are grazed regularly and grazing has recently been re-introduced to the upper Warren Hills. In the west of the compartment, near the road, is an underground reservoir, constructed in the 1970s and parts of the upper Warren Hills have been designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument (remains of rabbit warrens). A public footpath, with permissive extension, runs along the ridge and is very well used, extensively by dog walkers and over the years we have orienteered in this block. Given that dogs are walked here regularly and are banned from other parts of the reserve there is no link from Warren Hill to the other parts without travelling along the roads.

(see also Timberwood Hill, Charnwood Lodge, Gisborne's Gorse & Oaks in Charnwood)

Wicket Nook & South Wood

Wicket Nook is a pocket of National Trust woodland and what was previously the gamekeeper's cottage. This was built in 1830 and being situated on a quiet no-through road in an elevated position with stunning views over the Calke Estate is a popular let. South Wood is a continuation of the same block of woodland. Wicket Nook hamlet has the anomalous distinction of straddling the Leicestershire and Derbyshire border.

The whole pocket of woodland is of about 120 acres and is easily linked to our Lount map but given the commercial letting of the cottage the National Trust will not entertain public access.

Badby Woods

This small area is over the border into Northamptonshire and we inherited the area when NVO folded. We still have the old map of the area but have not now used it for many years.

Badby Wood is ancient woodland - it has been growing there for over 700 years. It was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1985. It mainly consists of native hazel and oak trees with ash in wetter areas as well as a mixture of birch, elder, honeysuckle, holly and rowan. Within the wood there are bracken glades, ancient earthworks and a stream. Bluebells carpet the woodland floor in May and June.

Other woodland plants to be found include wood anemones while wildlife inhabitants include badgers, foxes and pipistrelle bats, and birds such as the nuthatch, wood warbler and tree pipit. Badby Wood was imparked in 1245-6, creating a deer park for the Abbot of Evesham who had a Grange at Badby. The park pale (the boundary created to keep the deer in) still exists in the form of woodland banks around much of the wood.

Bucknell & North Hazleborough

About 400 hectares of Forestry Commission plantation, this is to the west of Silverstone. We inherited the area when NVO folded and the map is very stale. Given the distance and the number of similar woodlands we have in Northamptonshire we are not using this at present.

Buddon Wood

This woodland is on what was a hill to the north of Swithland Reservoir. We have mapped and used it but since 1970 the hill has been progressively quarried away. The collar of surviving woodland could be mapped with Mountsorrel Common and Castle Hill but would be fairly linear and is low priority at present. These two sites are registered common land and now 'Open Access' under the CRoW Act.

Despite clear felling and quarrying activities Buddon Wood remains one of the best birch-oak woodlands in Leicestershire of a type not found elsewhere in the East Midlands. It is on an area of granite overlain by Keuper Marl (Mercian Mudstone), giving a relatively free-draining, acid, siliceous clay soil. The woodland mainly is comprised of silver birch. Various oaks and small-leaved lime are indicating the ancient origins of the wood. Adjacent wet meadows and acidic flushes within the wood provide added diversity. Rare moths, butterflies spiders and other insects abound presumably because of the proximity of Swithland Reservoir.

The tall-fen and inundation plant communities of the margins of the reservoir are amongst the best in the County and the reservoir is important as a roosting and feeding area for waterfowl during winter months. There is evidence of Bronze or Iron Age activity at Buddon.

Conkers

This is an award winning pay-to-enter attraction at the heart of the National Forest with a mix of indoor and outdoor experiences largely aimed at the family and school groups. It is mapped for orienteering and also has a Tree Top Walk in the Discovery Centre and numerous different indoor and outdoor activities: including orienteering, lakeside walks, sculpture & nature trails, an assault course, train rides, playgrounds & water play! It is a popular educational resource with lakeside restaurants, specialist shops and a plant centre.

It was originally included on the map of Donisthorpe Woodland Park (previously mapped as The Heart of the Forest) but has been dropped given the new regime of charged admission.

Hunsbury Hill

Situated approximately 2 miles from Northampton town centre is a park of some 38 hectares in area, dominated by the crown of an Iron Age hill fort on the crest of Hunsbury Hill. We have an old map having inherited the area when NVO folded but have not used it for many years.

There is historical evidence about the site going back to Roman times and iron smelting was an early industry. In 1970 it was developed as country-type park, albeit within a built up area. It comes complete with an ironstone museum and trains and playing fields.

Hunsbury Hill Fort which is a scheduled ancient monument was a major focus in the early settlement of the Upper Nene Valley (Iron Age and Roman periods).

Lings Wood

Lings Wood, which was common heath land in the 16th century, became deciduous woodland by the end of the 19th century and was subsequently changed in part to a conifer plantation. It is now managed by the local wildlife trust and is now designated a Local Nature Reserve. It is owned by Northamptonshire County Council and covers over 22 hectares in the Eastern District of Northampton and being now surrounded by residential areas, forms a valuable haven for wildlife in the borough. The name 'Lings' dates back to the 16th century when it was common land of grass, heather - also known as 'ling' - gorse and birch. In 2000 the Wildlife Trust opened the Lings Environmental Centre, a purpose-built extension to Lings House.

We have an old map inherited from NVO when it folded but have not used the area for many years.

Loughborough University

This is an extensive and growing campus at a university specialising is sport and we really should have more connections with it. Periodically we have assisted a student orienteering club but this waxes and wanes under different intakes and in the past has taken up much time and effort to little ongoing benefit to the club. With the advent of sprints it may well be that we should look at the area again and see if we cannot get something set up by way of an ongoing club. We have an old map but a new one of the whole campus would be required if we are to organise an event.

The Loughborough campus (once the estate of Burleigh Manor) covers an area of 433 acres (1.75 km²), and includes academic departments, halls of residence, gardens and playing fields. Of particular interest are the beautiful walled garden, the "garden of remembrance", the Hazlerigg-Rutland Hall ("Rigg-Rut") fountain-courtyard and the Bastard Gates. In the central quadrangle of the campus stands the famous cedar, which has often appeared as a symbol for the University. Unfortunately a heavy snowfall in December 1990 led to the collapse of the upper canopy which gave the tree its distinctive shape. The recent acquisition by the university of Holywell Park from Advantica Technologies and a 23-acre parcel of land between New Ashby Road and Holywell Park from 3M Heath Care Limited has increased the size of the campus to 433 acres

Markfield Tops

Just above Markfield is a prominent hill with a quarry (called Hill Hole locally) and together with paths and lanes around Markfield itself we know the area as Markfield Tops. The path network does link it to Cliffe Hill Quarry via a cattle bridge over the M1 and also to Altar Stones.

Markfield Quarry itself was active in 1830 and large scale extraction began in 1852. By 1863, Ellis and Everard who operated it employed 90 men. Quarrying ended about the turn of the century. The rock is Markfieldite. The quarry is on top of a hill and is in two tiers. The lower tier (pit) is filled with water to a depth of about 5m. We can no longer access the quarry itself since it was acquired by Hinckley & Bosworth Council who have fenced it off as a nature reserve.

Altar Stones is owned by Leicestershire County Council and managed by the Country Parks Service. It was gifted to the County Council in 1949 and is noted for its rocky outcrops which date from the pre-Cambrian period and it is designated as a Regionally Important Geological Site. It was part of the rim of an ancient volcano. A neighbouring piece has public access and is managed by the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust who are currently negotiating to take over the management of Altar Stones itself. This is designated as Open Land under the CRoW Act and is known as Blacksmith's Field. An other neighbouring piece called Raunscliffe is also open to the public under the CRoW Act as registered Common Land and is owned by the Parish Council. All these are mapped together for our purposes.

Melton Mowbray Country Park

This comprises 140 acres of parkland and a section of the 'Jubilee Way' (a fifteen mile footpath that leads to Belvoir Castle) passes through the park. It contains nature & sculpture trails, a large lake and an abundance of wildlife.

This is an area where we have little representation and we have ambition eventually to bring this into use and possible offer the local authority help in the provision of a permanent orienteering course which could be serviced from the visitor centre.

Oundle Woods

A typical Northamptonshire working woodland of 58 hectares owned by the Forestry Commission. Given the levels of support we have in these distant parts and the number of similar sites available to us this site has not been pursued since our original enquiry.

Park Pale Wood

This site, supported by the National Forest, covers nearly 28 ha near Ashby-de-la-Zouch. It takes its name from the remains of the mediaeval pale (bank and ditch) that runs through the site, which formed part of the old hunting park, part of Calke Estate. The open meadow by the dismantled railway is part of the Lount Meadows Sites of Special Scientific Interest. It contains flowers of both dry meadow (common spotted orchid, devils' bit scabious) and of marshland (lady's smock, marsh thistle and brooklime). The existing wet woodland at the northern end of the site is known as Black Ditches. An area has been left to the south to allow natural extension of the woodland into the new plantation through natural regeneration. Too small in itself to interest us it is near to a number of other developments and may be useful in the future.

Sheet Hedges Wood

A 26 ha woodland on the outskirts of Groby managed by Leicestershire County Council. It was opened to the public in 1998 with National Forest grant aid together with funding from the County Council and Forestry Authority. Most of this woodland block has been harvested with new broadleaf planting replacing the conifers that once stood there. The eastern part of the woodland is a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is one of the best examples of ash and alder woods in Leicestershire.

Too small to use in isolation, the footpath network does link it with Groby Pool and Lawn Wood opening up possibilities for the future. Groby Pool itself is a fascinating birdlife haven often described as the largest sheet of natural water in Leicestershire. However there is a good case to be made that it is actually the remains of an old slate quarry flooded as far back as possibly the 13th century.

Vale Farm

This is a 50 acre small new woodland beside the M1 at Copt Oak. Planting features and overall design are sufficiently complex for an occasional training event but an initial approach drew a blank.

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