North West Leicestershire is a local government district in Leicestershire, England. The population of the Local Authority at the 2011 census was 93,348. Its main towns are Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Castle Donington, Coalville and Ibstock.
Charnwood Forest is a hilly tract in north-western Leicestershire, England, bounded by Leicester, Loughborough and Coalville. The area is undulating, rocky and picturesque, with barren areas. It also has some extensive tracts of woodland; its elevation is generally 600 feet (180 m) and upwards, the area exceeding this height being about 6,100 acres (25 km2). The highest point, Bardon Hill, is 912 feet (278 m). On its western flank lies an abandoned coalfield, with Coalville and other former mining villages, now being regenerated and replanted as part of the National Forest. The M1 motorway, between junctions 22 and 23, cuts through Charnwood Forest.
The Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust (LRWT) is one of 46 wildlife trusts across the United Kingdom. It manages nature reserves in Leicestershire and Rutland, and was founded in 1956 as the Leicestershire and Rutland Trust for Nature Conservation. As of January 2018, it has over 16,000 members, a staff of about 25 and more than 500 volunteers. It is based in Leicester, and is managed by a Council of Trustees which is elected by the members. It is a charity which covers all aspects of nature conservation, and works to protect wild places and wildlife.
The Watermead Country Park is a network of artificial lakes in the valley of the River Soar and the old Grand Union Canal, in and to the north of Leicester and in and to the south of the Borough of Charnwood in Leicestershire. The southern part of the park, which includes the Hill and the Mammoth is located in Rushey Mead. It runs north to south along the path of the watercourses, with Birstall to the west and Thurmaston to the east. The parks provide bird watching, fishing and watersports facilities, and are managed by a partnership of Leicestershire County Council, Leicester City Council and Charnwood Borough Council.
Swannington is a former mining village situated between Coalville and Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, England. A document of 1520 mentions five pits at Swannington. It was a terminus of the early (1832) Leicester and Swannington Railway that was built to serve the townships of Swannington and Thringstone and is built on a spot reputedly chosen by William Wordsworth, a frequent guest of Sir George Beaumont of nearby Coleorton Hall. It is possible that the dedication of the church to Saint George is derived from its association with this George Beaumont.
Coalville Meadows is a 6.0 hectares biological Site of Special Scientific Interest between Whitwick and Coalville in Leicestershire. It is managed by the Friends of Holly Hayes Wood.
Charnwood Lodge is a 134.2-hectare (332-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Charnwood Forest, east of Coalville in Leicestershire. It is a national nature reserve, and contains two Geological Conservation Review sites. It is managed by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust.
Hugglescote and Donington le Heath is a civil parish in North West Leicestershire, England. It includes the villages of Hugglescote and Donington le Heath, each of which is about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the centre of Coalville. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 4,446.
Roydon Fen is a 17.2 hectare Local Nature Reserve south of Roydon, on the western outskirts of Diss in Norfolk. It is owned by South Norfolk District Council and managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
Burbage Wood and Aston Firs is a 51.1-hectare (126-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest Leicestershire.
Snibston Grange is a 3.2 hectare Local Nature Reserve on the western outskirts of Coalville in Leicestershire. It is owned and managed by Leicestershire County Council.
Breedon Cloud Wood and Quarry is a 63.3 hectares biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest north-east of Worthington in Leicestershire. It is a Geological Conservation Review site. An area of 33 hectares is managed as a nature reserve by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust.
Billa Barra Hill is a 20.7 hectares Local Nature Reserve north of Stanton under Bardon in Leicestershire. It is owned and managed by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.
Glen Parva or Glen Hills is an 11.9 hectares Local Nature Reserve in Glen Parva on the south-western outskirts of Leicester. It is owned and managed by Blaby District Council, Leicestershire County Council and Glen Parva Parish Council
New Lount is a 21.3 hectares Local Nature Reserve north-east of Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire. It is owned and managed by Leicestershire County Council.
North Kilworth Nature Reserve is a 2.0 hectares Local Nature Reserve in North Kilworth Leicestershire. It is owned and managed by Harborough District Council, Millennium Green Trustee Management Group and Leicestershire County Council.
Moira Junction is a 3.5-hectare (8.6-acre) Local Nature Reserve north of Moira in Leicestershire. It is owned and managed by Leicestershire County Council.
Saltersford Wood or Saltersford Valley is a 5.7-hectare (14-acre) Local Nature Reserve north-west of Measham in Leicestershire. It is owned and managed by Leicestershire County Council, and it part of The National Forest. The wood is situated 1 km (0.62 mi) South East of the Saltersford Valley Picnic Area, a twinned Local Nature Reserve also administered by Leicestershire County Council. The two are now separated by Ashby Road and the Donisthorpe Cemetery.
