This report forms part of the 1:10,000 scale resurvey of the Leicester geological sheet which
will result in the publication of a revised 1:50,000 scale map and two reports: a Sheet
Description, available from BGS by print-on-demand, and a Sheet Explanation, the latter an
abridged version of the Sheet Description published as a booklet to accompany the folded
1:50 000 scale map. The content of this report will form the basis of the hydrogeological input
to the Sheet Description and Sheet Explanation.
The minimum elevation of the study area is about 42 m, in the valley of the River Soar near
Montsorrel in the north west of the district. A topographic divide trends generally south
westward, running approximately from Ranksborough Hill [SK 824 114], via Watborough
Hill [SK 767 059], Tilton-on-the-Hill [SK 744 057], about 1 km to the east of Billesdon [SK
730 028] and Rolleston [SK 731004] to Carlton Curlieu [SP694 973]. A maximum elevation
of over 210 m occurs on this divide between Tilton and Billsdon.
The greater part of the district lies to the west of the divide within the catchment of the River
Soar, itself a tributary of the River Trent. The northern section drains to the north via minor
tributaries of the Rivers Eye and Wreake, which flow westward (just outside the district) and
then south westward to join the River Soar to the south of Cossington. The River Soar and its
tributaries drain the whole of the western half of the district in a generally northerly direction.
Tributaries of the River Sence drain the south central section of the district, with the River
Sence flowing westward to join the River Soar in the south-west corner of the district near
Whetstone.
To the east of the watershed, the area is drained in a south easterly direction by tributaries of
the River Welland, notably the River Gwash, the River Chater and the Eye Brook.
The mean annual rainfall ranges from a minimum of about 630 mm in the Wreak valley on
the northern fringe of the area, to more than 700 mm over the higher ground to the west of
Montsorrel in the north-west of the district, as well as the more elevated areas around Cold
Overton and between Billesdon and Whatborough Hill in the east (Meteorological Office,
1977). The mean (1971 to 2000) annual evapotranspiration for the central part of the district is
about 515 mm (data derived using MORECS data (Thompson and others, 1981))
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