WATERMEAD COUNTRY PARK 49 ha
Plan your visit
🦅 Birds🦉 Wildlife🐶 Dogs
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 49 ha
Places › England › East Midlands › Leicester Getting here
52.66923, -1.11718
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ ☀️ June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit 🐕 Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails 🅿️ Parking nearby — easy to reach by car 🌤️ Visiting this summer
☀️ June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit 🐕 Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails 🅿️ Parking nearby — easy to reach by car £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🦅 Bird watching
Strong match
Nature reserve
Free
Dogs allowed — nature reserve
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Good match
Nature reserve — seasonal wildlife and habitats
Free
Named cycling route nearby: NCN 6 Flood Diversion Route
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 178 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Route 63 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 63 National Cycle Network
Show on map Leicester 'Route 2' Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 2 Local cycle route
Show on map West End Way Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref West End Way Local cycle route
Show on map Fosse2 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 48 National Cycle Network
Show on map Inner Ringway Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref Inner Ringway Local cycle route
Show on map Leicester 'Route 4' Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 4 Local cycle route
Show on map 1 public path nearby
Public paths
No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.
About this nature reserve Watermead Country Park is a local nature reserve covering 49 hectares located in Leicester, East Midlands. Visitors can explore varied habitats, including wetlands and wooded areas, which support a range of wildlife, ideal for birdwatching.
Photos The navigable River Soar, alongside Watermead Country Park
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id: b9c13c65-c531-4a87-8981-a1b13a766d19
UK green spaces mapped from open public data — so anyone can find the woodland, trail, or nature reserve closest to them.
© 2026 Glade · Made with care for UK green spaces
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Bookable tours Wildlife to spot
83,621 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 83,621 records · National Biodiversity Network Blackbird · Robin · Magpie · Little Egret · Woodpigeon +37
Blackbird Turdus merula Robin Erithacus rubecula Magpie Pica pica Little Egret Egretta garzetta Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Canada Goose Branta canadensis Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Great Tit Parus major Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Carrion Crow Corvus corone Mute Swan Cygnus olor Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Coot Fulica atra House Sparrow Passer domesticus Greylag Goose Anser anser Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Goosander Mergus merganser Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Dunnock Prunella modularis Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Black Swan Cygnus atratus Jay Garrulus glandarius Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Herring Gull Larus argentatus Starling Sturnus vulgaris Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Coal Tit Periparus ater2025 Teal Anas crecca2025 Lapwing Vanellus vanellus2025 Common Gull Larus canus2025 Gadwall Mareca strepera2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Grey Squirrel · Red Fox
Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Red Fox Vulpes vulpes2025 Common Quaker · Hebrew Character · Clouded Drab · Twin-spotted Quaker · Small Quaker +23
Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta Twin-spotted Quaker Anorthoa munda Small Quaker Orthosia cruda Brindled Beauty Lycia hirtaria Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis Chewing Gum Lichen · Physcia caesia · Physcia tenella
Chewing Gum Lichen Protoparmeliopsis muralis Physcia caesia Physcia caesia Physcia tenella Physcia tenella 🌿 Plants 4 species
winter spring
2026 ▾
Caucasian Wingnut · Butterbur · Hazel · Mistletoe
Caucasian Wingnut Pterocarya fraxinifolia Butterbur Petasites hybridus Hazel Corylus avellana Mistletoe Viscum album Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 83,621 records · National Biodiversity Network Blackbird · Robin · Magpie · Little Egret · Woodpigeon +37
Blackbird Turdus merula Robin Erithacus rubecula Magpie Pica pica Little Egret Egretta garzetta Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Canada Goose Branta canadensis Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Great Tit Parus major Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Carrion Crow Corvus corone Mute Swan Cygnus olor Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Coot Fulica atra House Sparrow Passer domesticus Greylag Goose Anser anser Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Goosander Mergus merganser Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Dunnock Prunella modularis Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Black Swan Cygnus atratus Jay Garrulus glandarius Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Herring Gull Larus argentatus Starling Sturnus vulgaris Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Coal Tit Periparus ater2025 Teal Anas crecca2025 Lapwing Vanellus vanellus2025 Common Gull Larus canus2025 Gadwall Mareca strepera2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Grey Squirrel · Red Fox
Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Red Fox Vulpes vulpes2025 Common Quaker · Hebrew Character · Clouded Drab · Twin-spotted Quaker · Small Quaker +23
Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta Twin-spotted Quaker Anorthoa munda Small Quaker Orthosia cruda Brindled Beauty Lycia hirtaria Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis Chewing Gum Lichen · Physcia caesia · Physcia tenella
Chewing Gum Lichen Protoparmeliopsis muralis Physcia caesia Physcia caesia Physcia tenella Physcia tenella 🌿 Plants 4 species
winter spring
2026 ▾
Caucasian Wingnut · Butterbur · Hazel · Mistletoe
Caucasian Wingnut Pterocarya fraxinifolia Butterbur Petasites hybridus Hazel Corylus avellana Mistletoe Viscum album Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Dotted Border Agriopis marginaria
Dotted Border Agriopis marginaria
Pale Pinion Lithophane socia
Pale Pinion Lithophane socia
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
Tortoise Bug Eurygaster testudinaria
Tortoise Bug Eurygaster testudinaria
7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata
7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata
Corizus hyoscyami Corizus hyoscyami
Corizus hyoscyami Corizus hyoscyami
Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis
Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis
Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum
Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum
Limodromus assimilis Limodromus assimilis
Limodromus assimilis Limodromus assimilis
Stomis pumicatus Stomis pumicatus
Stomis pumicatus Stomis pumicatus
Elaphrus cupreus Elaphrus cupreus
Elaphrus cupreus Elaphrus cupreus
Pterostichus minor Pterostichus minor
Pterostichus minor Pterostichus minor
Astenus pulchellus Astenus pulchellus
Astenus pulchellus Astenus pulchellus
Lathrobium impressum Lathrobium impressum
Lathrobium impressum Lathrobium impressum
Acupalpus dubius Acupalpus dubius
Acupalpus dubius Acupalpus dubius
Lathrobium geminum Lathrobium geminum
Lathrobium geminum Lathrobium geminum
Agonum micans Agonum micans
Agonum micans Agonum micans
Early Grey Xylocampa areola
Early Grey Xylocampa areola
Oak Beauty Biston strataria
Oak Beauty Biston strataria
March Moth Alsophila aescularia
March Moth Alsophila aescularia
Satellite Eupsilia transversa
Satellite Eupsilia transversa 