The nature conservation importance of Charnwood Forest is remarkable. It includes 23 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, along with many more areas designated as Local Wildlife Sites. A wide range of unusual and important species are associated with its distinctive heathlands, neutral grasslands, woodlands, rocky outcrops, reservoirs and watercourses.

Recording and monitoring of wildlife is vitally important for conservation as it helps to provide a picture of the health of habitats and species. As part of the Charnwood Forest Landscape Partnership Scheme led by the National Forest Company, the Species Identification and Recording project aims to increase the knowledge base and skill set of both existing and new volunteer wildlife recorders. It is hoped that these new found skills will enable people to confidently and accurately submit their wildlife records through NatureSpot, enabling us to track progress and enhance our understanding of species across the area.

All wildlife records are welcome but we are particularly interested in finding out more about a range of target species, selected by local wildlife experts, as these are indicators of habitat quality, are of particular interest in the wider landscape or are under-recorded where additional records would help build a fuller picture of Charnwood’s biodiversity.

Bomb Rocks, Charnwood Lodge