Field Trip Sandhills Lodge Farm

Field Trip to Sandhills Lodge Farm – 6 May 2026

The visit to Sandhills Lodge Farm was again made with a specific purpose in mind. The May 2026 visit to Garendon Park was organised for the Club to work collaboratively with Friends of Garendon Park, and the visit to Sandhills Lodge Farm was arranged to collaborate with the Corridor Club member Carl, who owns and manages the land sensitively and primarily for wildlife. We were there at the request of Nathalie Cossa who is undertaking a project on behalf of the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust (LRWT) to study the wildlife of a variety of estates in Charnwood Forest for their wildlife. The owners or managers of these estates have linked together, led by Kim Turner of Poultney Farm, to form the Corridor Club, the members all managing their land with wildlife in mind. Both of these field trips have given LNC an opportunity to visit and record on private land. Our July 2026 field trip will in fact be to Poultney Farm and give Members another chance to explore land not usually open to the public, and to record for the Corridor Club.

Sandhills Lodge Farm was acquired by the present owner in 2015 with a view to ‘re-wilding’ much of the land but keeping a range of habitats in order to encourage as much diversity of wildlife as possible. There are two SSSI sites, ancient wet woodland, National Forest woodland, and approximately 100 acres of grassland. The Bradgate Brook runs through the property to join up with the River Lin.

Many of our Club Members have been very actively involved with this land since 2015, not directly through LNC, but by being members of LRWT. Members have been involved in grassland, woodland, and hedgerow surveys, and also involved in regular bird and butterfly transects plus moth trapping.

On this occasion, as this was the first visit for most of the attendees, the field trip was planned to explore part of one of the fields by the parking area and the new pond that it contains, the track leading to Stinking Wood, Stinking Wood itself with its more established pond, and the brook running through it. Whilst waiting for Members to don their boots and pick up their bags, other Members got a head start by exploring the stone walls next to the parking area. There are countless other routes that we could have taken and hopefully will do so in future, accessing a different range of habitats. It would also be good to revisit later in the year. Although this was a May visit, we were unlucky that there was very little sunshine so we did not see the numbers of flying insects that sunnier weather might have brought out.

So how did we approach this? Several Members, Graham Finch, Mike Higgott, Phil Lee, Steve Woodward and Jenny Brown made their own lists and many photographs were supplied. The rest of the group, ten of us, acted collectively passing their observations to Helen Beardsworth who had a very busy morning writing the list especially as names were being called out sometimes in English and other times in Scientific Latin! (Helen’s main nature interest is birds!) Thanks enormously Helen. In addition, Jan Croft and Wendy Lee sent photos. Steve and Graham also contributed to that list as well as providing their own. Helen’s list was 140 records. Once I received all the records from Members I combined them into one spreadsheet totally 446 records, but many records were sometimes made of the same species both at the same site or at a different one, so I then made a spreadsheet with just one record per species giving us 224 species for the day.

I will be sending Nathalie all the raw data, as submitted to me, so she will be able to see grid references for the records and description of the location. Records consist of adults, larvae, mines, galls, and evidence.

The tables below summarize the range of taxa recorded on the day.

For Groups with just one taxon, I have entered that in the first table; for groups with more than one taxon see the tables below.

Groups	No. of Species	Name	Comments
Algae	1	Trentepohlia
Amphibians	1	Common Frog	Adult
Bees	3
Beetles	3
Birds	18
Bugs	5
Butterflies	6
Dragonflies	1	Large Red Damselfly
Fish	1	Bullhead	Dead in the stream, An Indicator Species for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Flies	11
Fungi	13
Harvestmen	1	Rilaena triangularis	Sometimes called the Spring Harvestman as it is usually the only adult harvestman to be found at this time of year.
Hoverflies	4
Mammals	3
Mites	4
Moths	23
Sawflies	1	Hemichroa crocea	Adult. Largely parthenogenic, males are rarely seen
Snails	1	Lauria cylindracea Common Chrysalis Snails (3)	On the wall by the cars. Common but tiny 3-4 mm and need keying out as there are several similar looking
Spiders	3
Vascular Plants	118
Wasps	3

Bees

Buff-tailed Bumblebee	Bombus terrestris
Common Carder Bumblebee	Bombus pascuorum
A Nomad Bee	Nomada species are cuckoo bees, laying their eggs in the nests of other species – usually Andrena bees.

Beetles: 30 species were recorded altogether.

Graham Finch Records:

309 individuals of 25 species, some in more than one area.

Ceutorhynchus typhae: tiny weevils were swept off Garlic Mustard throughout

Plateumaris sericea: was netted from the reeds around the pond

Phyllotreta undulata		Adult	5	Swept from low vegetation
Ceutorhynchus typhae		Adult	6	Off Garlic Mustard
Byturus ochraceus		Adult	10	Swept from low vegetation
Byturus tomentosus	Raspberry Beetle	Adult	4	Swept from low vegetation
Agriotes pallidulus		Adult	20	Swept from low vegetation
Athous haemorrhoidalis		Adult	4	Swept from low vegetation
Meligethes aeneus	Common Pollen Beetle	Adult	5	Swept from low vegetation
Propylea quattuordecimpunctata	14-spot Ladybird	Adult	2	Swept from low vegetation
Anaspis frontalis		Adult	5	Off Rowan blossom
Phyllobius roboretanus	Small Green Nettle Weevil	Adult	8	Swept from low vegetation
Meligethes atratus		Adult	3	Off Garlic Mustard
Coccinella septempunctata	7-spot Ladybird	Adult	5	Swept from low vegetation
Anaspis maculata		Adult	20	off various blossom and flowers
Nedyus quadrimaculatus	Small Nettle Weevil	Adult	8	Off Nettle
Phyllobius pyri	Common Leaf Weevil	Adult	3	Beat from low branches
Plateumaris sericea		Adult	1	Swept from reeds at the edge of pond
Kateretes pusillus		Adult	6	Swept from reeds at the edge of pond
Phyllotreta undulata		Adult	3	Swept from low vegetation
Hydroporus pubescens		Adult	4
Rhyzobius litura		Adult	3	Swept from low vegetation
Coccinella septempunctata	7-spot Ladybird	Adult	4	Swept from low vegetation
Propylea quattuordecimpunctata	14-spot Ladybird	Adult	2	Swept from low vegetation
Mecinus pascuorum		Adult	100	Beat off Ribwort Plantain
Meligethes aeneus	Common Pollen Beetle	Adult	20	Swept from low vegetation
Hygrotus inaequalis		Adult	2	Pond netted
Meligethes atratus		Adult	2	Swept from low vegetation
Anaspis frontalis		Adult	2	Swept from low vegetation
Psylliodes affinis		Adult	1	Swept from low vegetation
Trichosirocalus troglodytes		Adult	20	Beat off Ribwort Plantain
Nedyus quadrimaculatus	Small Nettle Weevil	Adult	5	Off Nettle
Agelastica alni		Adult	8	Off Alder
Noterus crassicornis	The Smaller Noterus	Adult	3	Pond netted
Ceutorhynchus typhae		Adult	3	Off Garlic Mustard
Anaspis maculata		Adult	12	Off various blossom and flowers

Five species of Beetles were recorded in addition to Graham’s by other Members. A record of Green Dock Beetle eggs was also made.

Aphidecta obliterata	Larch Ladybird	adult
Gastrophysa viridula	Green Dock Beetle	adult
Gastrophysa viridula	Green Dock Beetle	eggs
Grammoptera ruficornis	a small longhorn beetle	adult
Harmonia axyridis	Harlequin Ladybird	adult
Strophosoma melanogrammum	a Weevil	adult	13 records on NatureSpot

Birds: 18 species, seen or heard:

Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Long-Tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Pheasant, Raven, Robin, Song Thrush, Swallow, Woodpigeon and Wren.

Bugs: five species

Harpocera thoracica	a Mirid Bug	Associated with oak trees
Elasmostethus interstinctus	Birch Shieldbug
Coreus marginatus	Dock Bug
Dolycoris baccarum	Hairy Shieldbug
Cercopis vulnerata	Red-and-black Froghopper

Butterflies: six species

Green-veined White	adult
Holly Blue	adult
Orange-tip	eggs on Cardamine pratensis
Painted Lady	adult
Small White	adult
Speckled Wood	adult

Flies: 11 species

Beris chalybata	Murky-legged Black Legionnaire (a Soldier Fly)	adult
Bibio marci	St Mark’s Fly	adult
Chromatomyia aprilina	a Honeysuckle leaf miner	leaf mine
Ctenophora pectinicornis	a long-palped cranefly: Orange-sided Comb-horn. Only 10 records on NatureSpot	adult
Empis tessellata	a large dagger fly	adult
Limonia phragmitidis	a limonid crane fly	adult
Phytomyza ilicis	Holly Leaf Miner	Leaf mine
Rhagio tringarius	a Snipe fly	adult
Scathophaga stercoraria	Yellow Dung Fly	adult
Tipula oleracea	a Cranefly	adult
Urophora cardui	Thistle Gall Fly	gall

Fungi: 13 species

Puccinia sessilis	Arum Rust
Piptoporus betulinus	Birch polypore
Hypoxylon multiforme	Birch woodwart
Daedaleopsis confragosa	Blushing bracket
Rhopographus Filicinus	Bracken Map
Peronospora ficariae	Downy mildew	On Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna
Hypoxylon fuscum	Hazel Woodwart
Armillaria sp	Honey Fungus	Only bootlaces or rhizomorphs were seen on decaying fallen tree trunk – so not possible to ID to species
Fomes formentarius	Hoof fungus
Auricularia auricula-judae	Jelly Ear Fungus	On Alder
Puccinia urticata	Nettle Rust Fungus
Entyloma ficariae	Smut Fungus	On Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna
Exidia glandulosa	Witches butter

Hoverflies: four species

Chalcosyrphus eunotus	Logjammer Hoverfly	The larvae develop in partially submerged fallen logs and branches in streams, especially where log jams have formed. This is nearly always in wooded streams with dappled sunlight and lush streamside vegetation. Just 2nd record on NatureSpot.
Cheilosia albitarsis/ranunculi agg.	a hoverfly	Cheilosia albitarsis and Cheilosia ranunculi are very similar and can often only be safely determined by detailed examination. These species are often found in damp meadows, marshy areas, woodland clearings or well-shaded verges and are associated with buttercup.
Leucozona lucorum	a hoverfly	An Indicator Species for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Melanostoma scalare	Chequered Hoverfly

Mammals: three species

Badger	Evidence of latrines
Bank Vole	adult
Mole	evidence – molehills

Mites: four species

All four mite records were of Plant Gall causing mites:

Phytoptus avellanae	Hazel Big Bud	gall on Hazel
Eriophyes laevis	an Alder mite gall causer	gall Alder
Eriophyes similis	a Blackthorn mite gall causer also called Eriophyes prunispinosa	gall on Blackthorn
Eriophyes tiliae	Lime Nail Gall	gall on Lime

Moths: total 23 species

Graham Finch’s moth information and results: 16 Species

Grapholita jungiella: were flying in the meadow when the sun came out

Micropterix aruncella: I netted a couple in the meadow

Incurvaria masculella: just a singleton netted in the meadow

Elachista argentella: again a singleton netted in the meadow

Glyphipterix fusciviridella: in Stinking Wood, I assume they were off the Luzula

Micropterix aruncella	a moth	Adult	2
Incurvaria masculella	a moth	Adult	1
Limnaecia phragmitella	a moth	Larval spinning	20	On Typha
Elachista argentella	a moth	Adult	1
Grapholita jungiella	Vetch Piercer	Adult	5
Pyrausta purpuralis	a moth	Adult	1
Micropterix calthella	Plain Gold or Plain Pollen-moth	Adult	80
Stigmella aurella	a moth	Mine (vacated)	5	On Bramble
Adela reaumurella	Green Long-Horn	Adult (males and females)	18
Psyche casta	a moth (bagworm)	Case	1
Glyphipterix fuscoviridella	a moth	Adult	2
Esperia sulphurella	a moth	Adult	1
Coleophora serratella	a moth	Case	2
Pyrausta purpuralis	a moth	Adult	3
Operophtera brumata	Winter Moth	Larva	20	On Birch
Alsophila aescularia	March Moth	Larva	3	On Lime
Erannis defoliaria	Mottled Umber	Larva	5	On Hazel

Moths: seven species were found in addition to Graham’s finds:

Hysterophora maculosana	Small Bluebell Beauty or Bluebell Conch Larvae feeding inside the seed capsules of bluebell. (5 records on NatureSpot)	adult
Bactra lancealana	Common Lance or Rush Marble	adult
a moth	Drinker Moth	larva
a moth	Flame Shoulder	adult
a moth	November Moth	larva
a moth	Silver Y Moth	adult
a moth	Small Yellow Underwing	adult

Spiders: three species

Enoplognatha ovata s.l.	Common Candy-striped Spider sensu lato
Pisaura mirabilis	Nursery Web Spider
Larinioides cornutus	an Orb-Weave Spider

Vascular Plants: 118 species

A large list of 118 plants was made collaboratively.

1.         Alder	40.   Field Maple	80.   Pedunculate Oak
2.         Angelica	41.   Field Rose	81.   Polypody Agg. Polypodium vulgare agg.
3.         Ash	42.   Forget-Me-Not	82.   Prickly Sow-thistle
4.         Bamboo	43.   Foxglove	83.   Purple Toadflax
5.         Barren Strawberry	44.   Garlic Mustard	84.   Ramsons
6.         Beech	45.   Germander Speedwell	85.   Raspberry
7.         Bluebell	46.   Goosegrass	86.   Red Campion
8.         Bog Stitchwort	47.   Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum	87.   Red Clover
9.         Bracken	48.   Greater Duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza	88.   Red Fescue agg. Festuca rubra
10.   Bramble agg.	49.   Greater Plantain	89.   Reed Canary-Grass Phalaris arundinacea
11.   Broad Buckler Fern	50.   Greater Stitchwort	90.   Remote Sedge
12.   Broad-leaved Pondweed Potamogeton natans	51.   Greater Tussock Sedge Carex paniculata	91.   Rhododendron
13.   Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius	52.   Greater Willowherb	92.   Ribwort Plantain
14.   Bugle	53.   Guelder-rose	93.   Rowan
15.   Bulbous Buttercup	54.   Hairy Birch	94.   Scaly Male Fern
16.   Bulrush	55.   Hairy Woodrush	95.   Shield Fern sp.
17.   Burdock Agg.	56.   Hairy-brome Bromopsis ramosa	96.   Shining Cranesbill
18.   Canadian Black Poplar / Hybrid Black-Poplar Populus nigra x deltoides = P. x canadensis	57.   Hard Rush	97.   Silverweed
19.   Celandine	58.   Hart’s-tongue Fern	98.   Soft-Rush
20.   Chickweed	59.   Hawthorn	99.   Sweet Chestnut
21.   Cleavers	60.   Hazel	100. Sweet Vernal Grass
22.   Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil	61.   Hedge Woundwort	101. Thale Cress
23.   Common Chickweed	62.   Hemp Nettle Agg.	102. Three-nerved Sandwort
24.   Common Duckweed	63.   Herb Robert	103. Thyme-leaved Speedwell
25.   Common Figwort Scrophularia nodosa	64.   Hogweed	104. Tufted Hair Grass
26.   Common Hemp-nettle	65.   Holly	105. Tufted Sedge
27.   Common Mouse Ear	66.   Honeysuckle	106. Wild Angelica
28.   Common Nettle	67.   Hop Humulus lupulus	107. Wild Garlic
29.   Cowslip	68.   Horse Chestnut	108. Wood Anemone
30.   Creeping Buttercup	69.   Ivy	109. Wood Avens Geum urbanum
31.   Creeping Soft-Grass Holcus mollis	70.   Jack-By-The Hedge	110. Wood Dog Violet
32.   Creeping Thistle	71.   Lady Fern	111. Wood Melick
33.   Cuckoo Flower Cardamine pratensis	72.   Lesser Celandine	112. Wood Millet
34.   Daisy	73.   Lesser Pond-sedge Carex acutiformis	113. Wood Sage
35.   Dandelion	74.   Lesser Trefoil –Trifolium dubium	114. Wood-sedge Carex sylvatica
36.   Dog’s Mercury	75.   Lime	115. Wood Sorrel Oxalis acetosella
37.   Elder	76.   Lords-and-Ladies Arum maculatum	116. Wood Speedwell
38.   Enchanter’s-nightshade	77.   Marsh Thistle	117. Yellow Archangel
39.   Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense	78.   Meadow Buttercup	118. Yellow Pimpernel
	79.   Meadowsweet

Steve Woodward emphasised these records as particularly interesting:

Spirodela polyrhiza	Greater Duckweed	At the pond in stinking wood	a new tetrad record	Not often recorded in VC55.
Humulus lupulus	Hop	In Stinking Wood (found by Toby Manning)	a new tetrad record	Need to check for the Agromyzid Fly Mine that is specific to it later in the year.
Luzula pilosa	Hairy Woodrush	In Stinking wood	There are previous records from this tetrad	Not often recorded in VC55.
Luzula pilosa	Hairy Woodrush	On track back through wood	There are previous records from this tetrad	Not often recorded in VC55.
Carex paniculata	Great Tussock Sedge	At pond in Stinking wood	It has been recorded near here but more than 50 years ago

Wasps: three species of plant galling wasps on Oak

Andricus kollari f. agamic	Marble Gall
Biorhiza pallida	Oak Apple
Neuroterus quercusbaccarum f. sexual	Oak Currant Gall

Recording

• The purpose of LNC Field Trips is to make permanent records, and for us all to share our knowledge with each other thus learning and to have a good time.
• Records made by Graham and Steve will be made permanent in their customary ways, to LRERC, the Leicestershire and Rutland Environmental Records Centre.
• Mike Higgot customarily posts his records on NatureSpot from where they will find their way to LRERC.
• Records on NatureSpot for Sandhills Lodge can be viewed by googling “Sandhills Lodge NatureSpot”. The site is a private site and not searchable through NatureSpot.
• Everything on Helen’s list that I saw, and not recorded by Graham, Steve or Mike, I will post on NatureSpot.
• I am hopeful that all the data will eventually this way arrive at LRERC, but not all of it will be on NatureSpot.
• For any future visits I would probably suggest in advance that the excursion is divided into sensible sections with a central six-figure grid reference that we can all agree on and make the results easier to coordinate!

Conclusion

Loughborough Naturalists’ Club Members spent a thoroughly enjoyable morning at Sandhills. Sandhills Lodge is a beautiful part of our county, and I am certain that all the attendees were grateful for this chance to explore the private part of this land and also discover the footpath that runs through some of it. Many thanks to the owner Carl for allowing us access.

Hazel Graves