Charnwood Lodge NNR
Charwood Lodge is owned and managed by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust
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County: Leicestershire
Main habitats: Geological
Area: 80 Ha
Site map: Nature on the Map
Although most NNRs are managed by Natural England, 88 are wholly or partly managed by other bodies approved by Council, under Section 35 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
The reserve is an important geological site: the rocks here are amongst the oldest in England. Around 600 million years ago Charnwood was part of a volcanic island chain. Violent eruptions produced lava flows and threw blocks of rock ('bombs') into the sea. These bombs can now be seen in outcrops on the site, buried in agglomerate rock. In addition to these features, many primitive marine creatures were covered in volcanic ash and preserved as exceptionally rare fossils in the area.
Location and access
The reserve is four km east of Coalville and one km west of the M1.
By car, access to the site is via minor roads from the A50 and A512.
There are mainline train stations in Leicester (14 km to the south east) and Burton-upon-Trent (22 km to the north west).
Bus services from both Leicester and Burton Upon-Trent to Coalville are provided by Arriva.
A major trail, the Ivanhoe Way, passes near the southern boundary of the reserve.
Please note that access to the reserve is by permit only. Contact the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust for details.
Facilities
The nearest toilets and refreshment facilities are in local villages.
