{{short description|Site of Special Scientific Interest in Leicestershire}} {{Infobox SSSI |image= Ulverscroft Nature Reserve 6.jpg |image_caption = Ulverscroft Nature Reserve |name= Ulverscroft Valley |aos= Leicestershire |interest=Biological |gridref={{gbmappingsmall|SK 497 123}}<ref name=dsv/> |area= {{convert|110.8|ha|acre|abbr=off}}<ref name=dsv/> |notifydate= 1984<ref name=dsv/> |map=[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002060%27 ''Magic Map''] }}
'''Ulverscroft Valley''' is a {{convert|110.8|ha|acre|abbr=off|adj=on}} biological [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] north-west of [[Markfield]] in [[Leicestershire]].<ref name=dsv>{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1002060&SiteName=ulverscroft&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Ulverscroft Valley | series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 31 December 2017}}</ref><ref name=map>{{cite web|url= http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002060%27|title=Map of Ulverscroft Valley|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 31 December 2017}}</ref> The site is in five separate blocks, and two areas are nature reserves managed by the [[Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust]] (LRWT). [[Lea Meadows]] is owned by the LRWT<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.lrwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/lea-meadows/ |title= Lea Meadows |publisher= Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust |access-date=31 December 2017}}</ref> and it is also a [[scheduled monument]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/listed_buildings/moat_at_lea_meadows_south_of_polly_botts_lane_ulverscroft|title=Moat at Lea Meadows South of Polly Botts Lane, Ulverscroft (Ancient Monument)|publisher=Charnwood Borough Council|access-date=31 December 2017}}</ref> Part of [[Ulverscroft Nature Reserve]] is owned by the LRWT and part is owned by the [[National Trust]] and leased to the LRWT.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.lrwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/ulverscroft/ |title=Ulverscroft |publisher= Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust |access-date= 31 December 2017}}</ref>
==SSSI== The Ulverscroft Valley was designated as a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSI) under Section 28 of the [[Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981]]. It is described by [[Natural England]] as being one of the best wildlife sites in the county, with grassland, heath, woodland and wetlands. Over 200 plant species have been recorded on the site, with an especially rich flora in wet areas.<ref name=SSSI>{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1002060.pdf |title=Ulverscroft Valley citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date=31 December 2017}}</ref> The nature reserves are open to the public, but others parts are private land with no public access.
The drier habitats are dominated by [[Anthoxanthum odoratum|sweet vernal grass]], [[Cynosurus cristatus|crested dog's-tail]] and [[Festuca|fescues]]; the [[Gymnadenia conopsea|fragrant orchid]] and [[Carex pulicaris|flea sedge]], both rarities in the county, grow here. Wetter areas support a rich flora with 13 species of [[Carex|sedge]], including [[Carex rostrata|bottle sedge]], another county rarity, as well as [[Dactylorhiza maculata|heath spotted-orchid]], [[Viola palustris|marsh violet]] and [[Triglochin palustris|marsh arrow grass]], [[Briza media|quaking-grass]], and the uncommon [[Ophioglossum vulgatum|Adder's-tongue fern]].<ref name=SSSI/>
The acidic marshy grassland is covered by a mixture of [[Molinia caerulea|purple moor-grass]], [[Deschampsia cespitosa|tufted hair-grass]], [[Juncus|rushes]] and sedges, with patches of [[Calluna|heather]] and [[bilberry]] and spikes of [[Cirsium dissectum|meadow thistle]]. There are areas of unspoilt [[Quercus petraea|sessile oak]] woodland which have an understorey of [[Salix cinerea|sallow]], [[Ulex europaeus|European gorse]] and [[Ulex gallii|western gorse]]. Breeding birds in the woodland include woodcock and snipe, and occasionally [[western yellow wagtail]] and [[common redstart]].<ref name=SSSI/>
==References== {{reflist}} {{commons category|Ulverscroft Valley}}
{{coord| 52.709| -1.273 |type:landmark_region:GB-BNE|display=title}} {{SSSIs Leicestershire }} [[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Leicestershire]]