131 FARNHAM BRIDGE MARSH

Date: 11th May 2002

We went into the swamp area that borders the old A6 and Rothley Brook. It is a piece of land that has a series of channels that you can only see by walking on the land. There was a good view of the bridge over the A6 and it was interesting to see the number of arches, which must all have carried water in the past. It was understood that in the past the brook was much wider and this certainly indicates it to be a true fact.

11th May 2002

There was a great abundance of stinging nettles and it is advisable to wear wellingtons and thick trousers. The wild flowers are starting to bloom with Lady's Smock, Silverweed and Buttercups much in evidence. There was a good patch of Marsh Marigold. We did not enter the very marshy areas but these are indicated by reeds and best avoided. It could be very easy to get stuck in the mud.

11th May 2002

There are some interesting stands of willow and, on the border with the adjoining pasture field, there was one with a three metre girth which was recorded as an Ancient Tree 57 and Ancient Tree 58 with a girth of 3.5m. There were others on the banks of the Rothley Brook but not on the land being recorded.

11th May 2002

A further visit will be needed when the flowers are more forward and dragonflies and damselflies on the wing.
Whitethroats were calling along the hawthorn hedgerows and this would be the perfect nesting site due to the thick, undisturbed vegetation abutting it.
In the brook there were areas of exposed mud with vegetation and unidentified mammal prints.

The area has all the makings of a SINC (Site of Interest for Nature Conservation).

Date: 28th July 2003

I have today received a copy of the survey from Charnwood Wildlife and it looks as though it might be approved as a SINC. I rang Charnwood Wildlife but Richard Allan, the Ecologist, left on the 26th July so I cannot talk to him about it. I did speak to Francoise Scrire, Senior Ecologist, but she doubted that the survey covered the marsh.

The survey was completed by Charnwood Wildlife on the 17th June 2003 under reference W 5813/3. The Conservation Status was recorded as Parish Level Site and a candidate for designation as a SINC (Site of Interest for Nature Conservation). A list of species is available under the above reference.

In June 2004 I contacted Leicestershire County Council for an update on the Conservation Status but nothing recorded. Charnwood Wildlife does not now exist.

Date: 7th June 2004

Confirmation still not received from Holly Hayes that the site will become a SINC.
I made a further visit to see what had happened to the site after two years. It was completely overgrown and clogged up with vegetation, especially stinging nettles. There was no safe way to get to the swampy areas and we even tried to get access from a nearby field without success. It is a good example of what can happen to a site that has no management, the swamp vegetation completely fills the basins and where moorhens used to swim is no more.

The hawthorn hedgerow to the right of the entrance gate that I said in May 2002 would be good for Whitethroats has been laid and a ditch dug out resulting in the destruction of the thick vegetation. An example of management that destroys habitat in an area where nothing else is managed.
Water was being pumped from the Rothley Brook to water plants at the nursery.
On the banks of the brook were Banded demoiselles and some good-sized unidentified fish in the brook.

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