About the reserve

The nature reserve is a mosaic of habitats comprising wet and dry grassland, reedbed, hedgerows, ponds and deciduous woodland. The grasslands abound with knapweed, bedstraw, sneezewort and bird foot trefoil.

Listen out for the often heard but rarely seen Cetti’s warbler with its staccato song ‘chewee–chewee–chew–chew–chewee –chewchewchewchwee’.

A number of bat species can be seen flitting along the tree lines and across the water during the summer and autumn months, feeding on insects emerging from the ponds and wet ditches.

The River Derwent is home to a number of wildlife species, take a walk along the river and you might see grey herons, little grebes and kingfishers.

The 18.5 hectare site is owned by Goodman, who invested in local infrastructure and the creation of a dedicated wildlife area when work on Derby Commercial Park was completed in 2007. Derby City Council and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust are now in partnership to manage the site.