LRWT Cossington Meadows

The Leicester and Rutland Wildlife Trust owns this stretch of meadowland just outside Leicester, and it's the sort of place that rewards a slow morning rather than a rushed visit. You're walking through proper wildflower meadows here - the sort that bloomed across England before we ploughed most of them up. Spring and early summer are when it really sings, with orchids and fritillaries doing their thing among the grasses.

There's a network of paths threading through, so you can make it as long or short as you fancy. Birdwatchers will want their binoculars - you get warblers, woodpeckers, and if you're lucky, lesser spotted varieties. Families with younger kids might find it a bit quiet after twenty minutes unless they're genuinely into spotting things, but older ones keen on nature will lose an hour easily enough. The meadows attract serious photographers too, especially when the light's right.

It's free to wander, as far as I can tell, though the trust would appreciate a donation if you've got a tenner spare. From Meadow Farm Marina or High Meadows Farm nearby, it makes a proper walking break - nowhere near as trampled as the obvious country spots closer to Leicester town centre. Go early if you want the place to yourself, and don't expect visitor facilities. Bring your own coffee.