Slinter Woods & Dunsley Meadows

View up into Slinter woods

Slinter Woods & Dunsley Meadows

Slinter Woods and Dunsley Meadows form part of our Derwent Valley living landscape.

Location

Matlock
DE4 2AJ

OS Map Reference

SK 2860 5708
A static map of Slinter Woods & Dunsley Meadows

Know before you go

Size
17 hectares
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Entry fee

Free
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Parking information

No parking on site. Best to park in Cromford, and walk to the W3W location.
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Grazing animals

At certain times of year

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Walking trails

There are public rights of way throughout the site, connecting to our Rose End Meadows reserve. A section of flatter and more accessible footpath runs along the base of Slinter Woods.

However, please note that the woodland is steep-sided, so some footpaths are more challenging to navigate and will require appropriate footwear, especially at wetter times of the year.

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Access

There are public footpaths throughout the site that the public is welcome and encouraged to walk and enjoy.

There are public rights of way throughout the site, connecting to our Rose End Meadows reserve. At certain times of year, animals graze on Dunsley Meadows.

Dogs

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Well-behaved dogs are welcome and should be kept on a lead where livestock are on site and during bird nesting season.

When to visit

Opening times

Open 24/7

Best time to visit

Spring/Summer

About the reserve

Slinter Woods and Dunsley Meadows form part of our Derwent Valley living landscape.  Slinter Woods is a steep-sided limestone dale, with a mix of grassland, scrub and woodland.  The woodland is typical of limestone dales and is a beautiful mix of ash, elm, and hazel trees, with a rich flowering woodland floor. Typically of undisturbed limestone dales, it has a population of native large-leafed lime, an ancient woodland indicator. 

The wider landscape is a mosaic of woodland, scrub, bare ground and grassland habitats.  This diverse mix supports at least twelve nationally notable flowering plant species, with many others which are locally uncommon. It also has an excellent range of invertebrates, many of which are nationally notable species. The disused mines and caverns through the woodland also include places where at least four bat species hibernate.

Next to Slinter Woods, Dunsley Meadows is a mix of species-rich pastures and meadows, with mixed hedgerows between.

As spring gives way to summer, the woodland edge and hedgerows burst with wildflowers while the meadows showcase a stunning array of colours.

This site, adjacent to it and connected by footpaths, also shares a boundary with our Rose End Meadows site.