Aylestone Meadows

Aylestone Meadows is Leicester's largest nature reserve[1][2] situated on the floodplains of the River Soar and River Biam[3] along with several locks of the Grand Union Canal. It is a local nature reserve[4][5] with a high wildlife conservation value, and has trails that are popular venue with hikers,[6] families on outings, dog walkers[7] and cyclists.[8] Many species of plant and wildlife live amongst the patchwork of flood meadows, woodland and wetlands 1.6 miles from the city centre.

Two hundred and fifty thousand years after the Ice Age, the River Soar followed the course of the River Bytham and is now one of the primary sources of the occasional flooding of the meadows. It is home to bird and wildlife together with rare[9] and common flora.[10][11]

A medieval packhorse bridge provides evidence of trade and previous populations. As this area was the site of floodplains, resulting in fertile land and good grazing areas, a settlement grew from prehistoric times to become the village of Aylestone. The construction of the Packhorse Bridge from local granite enabled transportation of goods across an area prone to flooding and includes several passing areas.[12][13]

References

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  1. ↑ Aylestone Meadows, Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust | Leicester Mercury
  2. ↑ Leicester (England). City Planning Department (1989). Leicester ecology strategy. Leicester City Council. ISBN 978-0-901675-54-5. (various pages)
  3. ↑ http://watermaps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiyby.aspx?lang=_e&topic=floodmap&layer=0&x=457500&y=300500&scale=10&location=Aylestone%2c+City+of+Leicester#x=456687&y=300855&scale=11
  4. ↑ "Aylestone Meadows". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Map of Aylestone Meadows". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  6. ↑ Paul Biggs (1995). Waterway Walks in Leicestershire and Rutland. Sigma Leisure. pp. 67–. ISBN 978-1-85058-442-1.
  7. ↑ "Rivers polluted near Aylestone Meadows as old sewage tank fails". Leicester Mercury, July 24, 2014 By Samantha Fisher
  8. ↑ Aylestone Meadows | NatureSpot
  9. ↑ Aylestone Meadows survey report available now - Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
  10. ↑ Aylestone Meadows – Leicester’s Hidden Countryside " mike scheerer
  11. ↑ http://www.lrwt.org.uk/media/uploads/news/am-publicreport.pdf retrieved 10/10/2014
  12. ↑ Aylestone Meadows by R N Hutchinson
  13. ↑ Jack Simmons (1974). Leicester Past and Present: Modern city, 1860-1974. Eyre Methuen. ISBN 978-0-413-30890-0.

Coordinates: 52°36′18″N 1°09′36″W / 52.605°N 1.160°W / 52.605; -1.160

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