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Lea Head moated site

0 ha

📷 Jonathan Billinger · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal

Free entryDogs welcome0 ha

Getting here

52.97578, -2.37371

Open directionsv

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

6 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Bird watching

Strong match

Birds — Blackbird, Swallow, Woodpigeon +37 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Blackbird, Swallow, Woodpigeon +37 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Cock's-foot, Creeping Buttercup, Creeping Thistle +50 more · last seen 2026; Plants — Cock's-foot, Creeping Buttercup, Creeping Thistle +50 more · last seen 2026

Free

Foraging

Strong match

Plants — Bramble, Common Nettle, Blackthorn +7 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly +37 more · last seen 2024; Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly +37 more · last seen 2024

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Newcastle WayWalking route40 km

Market Drayton to Mow Cop

Named routeLength 40 kmRegional walking route

🚴

Cycling

4 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

NCN 552Cycling route

Named routeRef 552National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route556 m

Named routeRef 552Length 556 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route6.5 km

Named routeRef 552Length 6.5 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route4.2 km

Named routeRef 552Length 4.2 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

6,964 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

6,964 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds34 species

springsummerwinter

2025

Swallow · Magpie · Robin · Great Tit · Woodpigeon +29

SwallowHirundo rustica
MagpiePica pica
RobinErithacus rubecula2024
Great TitParus major2024
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2024
BlackbirdTurdus merula2024
House SparrowPasser domesticus2024
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2024
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2024
JackdawColoeus monedula2024
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
DunnockPrunella modularis2024
GreenfinchChloris chloris2024
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2024
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2023
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
NuthatchSitta europaea
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
RavenCorvus corax
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
Stock DoveColumba oenas2024
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2024
Coal TitPeriparus ater2024
SwiftApus apus2023
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2023
Delichon urbicum urbicumDelichon urbicum urbicum2023
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2023
BuzzardButeo buteo2023
RookCorvus frugilegus2023
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2023
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2023
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2023
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2023

🦌

Mammals9 species

springsummer

2026

Rabbit · Hedgehog · Grey Squirrel · Badger · Red Fox +4

RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2024
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2025
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
BadgerMeles meles
Red FoxVulpes vulpes2025
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2023
House MouseMus musculus2023
Field VoleMicrotus agrestis2023
Common ShrewSorex araneus2023

🐟

Fish1 species

summer

2025

Rudd

RuddScardinius erythrophthalmus

🐝

Insects15 species

autumn

2024

7-spot Ladybird · 16-spot Ladybird · 22-spot Ladybird · Rhyzobius litura · Harlequin Ladybird +10

7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
16-spot LadybirdTytthaspis sedecimpunctata
22-spot LadybirdPsyllobora vigintiduopunctata
Rhyzobius lituraRhyzobius litura
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata
10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata
Rhyzobius lophanthaeRhyzobius lophanthae
Common EarwigForficula auricularia/dentata agg.
Pine LadybirdExochomus quadripustulatus
Rhyzobius chrysomeloidesRhyzobius chrysomeloides
Broad CenturionChloromyia formosa
Common CockchaferMelolontha melolontha
Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis
Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major2023

🌿

Plants39 species

summer

2026

Cock's-foot · Creeping Thistle · Creeping Buttercup · Yorkshire-fog · Common Nettle +34

Cock's-footDactylis glomerata2023
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense2023
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens2023
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus2023
Common NettleUrtica dioica2023
BrambleRubus fruticosus2023
Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera2023
Meadow FoxtailAlopecurus pratensis2023
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur2023
DandelionTaraxacum2023
HawthornCrataegus monogyna2023
Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris2023
IvyHedera helix2023
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus2023
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius2023
BlackthornPrunus spinosa2023
AlderAlnus glutinosa2023
CleaversGalium aparine2023
Dog-roseRosa canina2023
Red CampionSilene dioica2023
Soft-rushJuncus effusus2023
Dog's MercuryMercurialis perennis
Wood AvensGeum urbanum2023
TimothyPhleum pratense2023
HollyIlex aquifolium2023
Broad-leaved WillowherbEpilobium montanum2023
Great WillowherbEpilobium hirsutum2023
Clustered DockRumex conglomeratus2023
Velvet BentAgrostis canina2023
BittersweetSolanum dulcamara2023
ElderSambucus nigra2023
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2023
Creeping Soft-grassHolcus mollis2023
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius2023
AshFraxinus excelsior2023
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2023
Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum2023
HazelCorylus avellana2023
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne2023

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

6,964 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds34 species

springsummerwinter

2025

Swallow · Magpie · Robin · Great Tit · Woodpigeon +29

SwallowHirundo rustica
MagpiePica pica
RobinErithacus rubecula2024
Great TitParus major2024
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2024
BlackbirdTurdus merula2024
House SparrowPasser domesticus2024
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2024
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2024
JackdawColoeus monedula2024
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
DunnockPrunella modularis2024
GreenfinchChloris chloris2024
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2024
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2023
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
NuthatchSitta europaea
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
RavenCorvus corax
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
Stock DoveColumba oenas2024
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2024
Coal TitPeriparus ater2024
SwiftApus apus2023
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2023
Delichon urbicum urbicumDelichon urbicum urbicum2023
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2023
BuzzardButeo buteo2023
RookCorvus frugilegus2023
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2023
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2023
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2023
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2023

🦌

Mammals9 species

springsummer

2026

Rabbit · Hedgehog · Grey Squirrel · Badger · Red Fox +4

RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2024
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2025
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
BadgerMeles meles
Red FoxVulpes vulpes2025
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2023
House MouseMus musculus2023
Field VoleMicrotus agrestis2023
Common ShrewSorex araneus2023

🐟

Fish1 species

summer

2025

Rudd

RuddScardinius erythrophthalmus

🐝

Insects15 species

autumn

2024

7-spot Ladybird · 16-spot Ladybird · 22-spot Ladybird · Rhyzobius litura · Harlequin Ladybird +10

7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
16-spot LadybirdTytthaspis sedecimpunctata
22-spot LadybirdPsyllobora vigintiduopunctata
Rhyzobius lituraRhyzobius litura
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata
10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata
Rhyzobius lophanthaeRhyzobius lophanthae
Common EarwigForficula auricularia/dentata agg.
Pine LadybirdExochomus quadripustulatus
Rhyzobius chrysomeloidesRhyzobius chrysomeloides
Broad CenturionChloromyia formosa
Common CockchaferMelolontha melolontha
Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis
Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major2023

🌿

Plants39 species

summer

2026

Cock's-foot · Creeping Thistle · Creeping Buttercup · Yorkshire-fog · Common Nettle +34

Cock's-footDactylis glomerata2023
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense2023
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens2023
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus2023
Common NettleUrtica dioica2023
BrambleRubus fruticosus2023
Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera2023
Meadow FoxtailAlopecurus pratensis2023
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur2023
DandelionTaraxacum2023
HawthornCrataegus monogyna2023
Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris2023
IvyHedera helix2023
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus2023
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius2023
BlackthornPrunus spinosa2023
AlderAlnus glutinosa2023
CleaversGalium aparine2023
Dog-roseRosa canina2023
Red CampionSilene dioica2023
Soft-rushJuncus effusus2023
Dog's MercuryMercurialis perennis
Wood AvensGeum urbanum2023
TimothyPhleum pratense2023
HollyIlex aquifolium2023
Broad-leaved WillowherbEpilobium montanum2023
Great WillowherbEpilobium hirsutum2023
Clustered DockRumex conglomeratus2023
Velvet BentAgrostis canina2023
BittersweetSolanum dulcamara2023
ElderSambucus nigra2023
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2023
Creeping Soft-grassHolcus mollis2023
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius2023
AshFraxinus excelsior2023
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2023
Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum2023
HazelCorylus avellana2023
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne2023

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Jonathan Billinger · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Pasture and woodland, 2

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Knighton CuttingUrban park2.4 km→🌱Onneley Golf ClubUrban park1.3 km→🌱Dorothy Clive GardenUrban park2.2 km→✦Site of Old Madeley Manor: a moated site with late 16th century house, gardens and a watermillHistoric site2.3 km→✦Old Madeley ManorHistoric site2.3 km→✦Moated site, four pond bays and an associated enclosure at Willoughbridge ParkHistoric site3 km→

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