Cribb's Meadow

Cribb’s Meadow is a 4.2-hectare nature reserve east of Wymondham in Leicestershire. It sits on ridge and furrow land formed on boulder clay and is owned by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. The site is also a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve. A disused railway embankment crosses the meadow, adding to its varied habitats. It is further recognised as a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade 2. The meadow supports a rich mix of plants including adder’s tongue fern, pepper saxifrage, hayrattle and green-winged orchid. These species thrive in the neutral grassland created by centuries of traditional farming. The diversity of flora attracts a wide range of insects and birds throughout the year. The reserve’s varied terrain includes damp hollows and drier ridges, each supporting different plant communities. Visitors enter from Fosse Lane and follow a footpath through the southern end of the meadow. The path offers views across the open grassland and along the old railway embankment. Wildflowers colour the ground in spring and summer, while autumn brings golden hues to the grasses. The reserve provides a quiet place to observe wildlife without disturbance.