Bradgate Park - Bradgatia

More than half a billion years ago, Bradgate Park lay at the bottom of an ocean. The rocky outcrops in the upper part of the Park record the layers of sediment that were deposited in the deep sea, when what is now Charnwood Forest would have been in the southern hemisphere, around 60 degrees south of the equator. But these rocks contain more than silt and sand…

The rocks of Bradgate Park are home to some of the oldest animal fossils ever discovered. Dating back to around 562 million years ago, they are from the Ediacaran (“ee-dee-AK-a-run”) geological period, and help us to understand how life evolved to become large and multicellular. In 2024, Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood was given National Nature Reserve status, in recognition of the exceptional geological treasurers found here.

Delve deeper into the story of the fossil Bradgatia with a visit to the interpretation panel at what3words location ///rush.estate.hoping. Please note that access to the fossil site itself is not permitted to help conserve these internationally significant features.

This geosite is dedicated to the memory of Helen Boynton, who we remember for her longstanding promotion of geological research in Charnwood Forest, and the conservation of our very special fossils.