Syston Road, west of Cossington village, Leicestershire, LE7 4UZ, beside the River Soar

Cossington Meadows (Lower Moor Nature Reserve)

Mixed-habitat reserve

Place photograph

5.7

Wildland

1–2 hours

Time

Free

Cost

Peaceful

Feel

WetlandRiversideFarmlandWildlife loversBirdwatchersWalkersPhotographersFamilies

Why it's Wildland

5.7

Gravel workings transformed into a living wetland: Cossington Meadows’ lakes, pools and scrapes now draw wintering ducks, hunting owls and wading birds to the Soar Valley.

This is a working wetland landscape shaped by both gravel extraction and deliberate habitat restoration. Its appeal is in the changing seasonal mix: winter flocks and owls, shallow pools for waders, and the chance to scan the River Soar-side meadows for kingfishers and other wildlife.

Peaceful · Big-sky · Wild

Find your way

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Syston Road, west of Cossington village, Leicestershire, LE7 4UZ, beside the River Soar

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The experience

Take a quiet walk through the wetland and meadow paths, stopping to watch the pools and scan the grassland. The reserve is open year-round; winter is especially rewarding for waterbirds and owls. Keep to public paths and follow local signs.

Things to do

Watch the wintering wildfowl

Look across the deep pools for ducks including wigeon, teal, gadwall and tufted duck. Winter is the strongest season for large gatherings; sightings vary.

20–40 minutes

Scan the meadows for hunting owls

Watch the grassland and fence posts for owls hunting or perching. The reserve reports short-eared owls in winter; sightings are not guaranteed.

15–30 minutes

Explore the pools and wetland margins

Walk the public paths and look along shallow water and muddy edges for waders, including lapwing and green sandpiper. Water levels and species change with the seasons.

30–60 minutes

Look for summer insects and amphibians

In warmer months, watch the pools and wet edges for dragonflies and butterflies; the reserve also records frogs, toads and grass snakes, which can be difficult to spot.

20–40 minutes

Follow a public-footpath circuit

The reserve has public footpaths and a circular walk is described by a birding guide. Check the reserve map and local signs for the current route; no precise route length is supplied here.

Make a day of it

Quick escape · 1–2 hours

A quiet wetland wander

01
Start from the main entrance or the public car park beside Cossington Parish Church; check signs for the route and access points.
02
Follow the public paths through the meadows and around the wetland pools, pausing to watch for waterbirds and birds of prey.
03
Return by the path you came on or use a signed public footpath if the route and conditions are clear.

Half day · Half day

Make time for the changing wetlands

01
Visit in winter if you want to look for gatherings of wigeon and teal and owls hunting over the meadows.
02
Take a slower circuit of the public paths, stopping at pools and muddy edges to look for waterfowl and waders.
03
Bring binoculars and allow time to watch rather than simply walk through; check conditions after heavy rain, when flooding can occur.

Verified history

Gravel extraction reshaped the site during the 1980s and 1990s, leaving pits that filled with water. The reserve has since been managed for wetland wildlife, including through the creation of wader scrapes, ponds and reedbeds and the grazing of grassland. The landscape continues to change with natural flooding and water levels.

Hidden details

Floodwater makes temporary feeding pools — After heavy winter rain, floodwater can recede into shallow pools across the reserve. These may dry in summer, exposing muddy habitat used by wading birds.

The reserve is deliberately changing — The Wildlife Trust describes creating scrapes, reshaping ditch banks, digging ponds and establishing reedbeds to encourage wildlife and work with natural processes such as flooding.

When to go

November · December · January · February · March · April · May · June · A calm morning is a good time to watch wildlife; visit in winter for wildfowl and owls, or in spring and summer for migrant birds and insects.

The reserve offers wildlife interest through the year. Winter brings gatherings of ducks and hunting owls; spring and summer are better for migrant birds, dragonflies and butterflies. Flooding can alter the wetland and path conditions.

The River Soar and reserve can flood during heavy winter rain. Paths and shallow pools may be muddy or change with water levels; check current conditions and wear suitable footwear.

The route

surface: Wide paths are reported by the birding guide; surface varies and may be muddy
difficulty: Easy, according to the birding guide
waymarking: Check the reserve map and local signs
route shape: Circular walk described; confirm the current route on the reserve map
start point: Main entrance on Syston Road or public car park beside Cossington Parish Church
parking start: Off-road parking by the main entrance or small public car park beside Cossington Parish Church; confirm signs and availability
shorter alternative: Walk a short out-and-back section from an access point and return the same way; check conditions and public-path signs.

Wetland pools and meadow
Seasonal wildfowl and waders
River Soar-side landscape
Chance of seeing hunting owls

What to look for

01
Scan the pools for wigeon, teal, gadwall and tufted duck
02
watch muddy margins for lapwings and other waders
03
look over the meadows for hunting owls. Kingfishers, grey wagtails and kestrels are also recorded at the reserve. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

The story

Industry

Best time to go

Winter for gathering wildfowl and the chance of seeing owls over the meadows; spring and summer bring migrant birds, dragonflies and butterflies.

Try a calm winter morning for ducks on the pools and owls hunting over the meadows. In spring and summer, look around shallow pools and muddy edges for wildlife, and watch for dragonflies and butterflies.

How long to spend

1–2 hours

Perfect for

Wildlife lovers · Birdwatchers · Walkers · Photographers · Families · Dogs

Practical information

Opening & access

The reserve is open at all times and entry is free. The official reserve page describes access from Syston Road and public footpaths entering at several points. Parking is available off the road by the main entrance or in the small public car park beside Cossington Parish Church. Paths may be affected by winter flooding; check current conditions before visiting.

Check before visiting

Parking

Small public car park beside Cossington Parish Church; parking is also described off the road outside the main entrance on Syston Road. Check local signs and current arrangements.

Check before visiting

Toilets

No on-site toilets are listed by the source row; check before visiting.

Check before visiting

Food & drink

No on-site café is listed by the source row. Cossington village has a pub and local shops according to the source row; check opening details before visiting.

Check before visiting

Dogs

Dogs on a lead, according to the reserve information.

Accessibility

The source row says some paths are suitable for wheelchair users, with assistance potentially needed on natural terrain. Check route conditions before setting out.

Check before visiting

Cost

Free

Water

River, ponds, wetland pools