Carvers Rocks, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust

Bluebell, Jim Higham

Carvers Rocks, Louise Baker

Great crested grebe, Hilton Pete via Flickr

Carvers Rocks

Carvers Rocks nature reserve is owned by Severn Trent Water and as of 2021 has been leased to The National Trust for a 25 year period. The regional National Trust team is now looking after this site, both carrying out practical conservation work and managing the visitor infrastructure and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust do not have any practical involvement with either.

We continue to work with Severn Trent Water and National Trust in partnership sharing mutual advice and support, working together on the wider aims of a thriving living landscape and species recovery but please direct all enquiries regarding access and practical work to foremarkandstaunton@nationaltrust.org.uk or call 01332863822.

A great place to see birds all year round, with rare habitats including one of the last areas of lowland heath in Derbyshire.

Location

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On the A514 Ticknall to Swadlincote road

Swadlincote

Derbyshire

DE11 7AT

OS Map Reference

SK 3348 2226

Know before you go

Size

16 hectares

Entry fee

Parking information

There is limited parking at the road gates.

Access

Due to the distance from the nearest parking area and the nature of the paths it is only recommended for visitors with no more than slightly limited mobility (accompanied). Only one access is gated (main entrance) the rest being stiles. All paths are uneven and several are steep.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

Spring for bluebells and autumn for heather

About the reserve

Carvers Rocks lies at the southern end of Foremark Reservoir.

Its unusual habitats include marsh, alder woodland and sphagnum moss. During summer the wet marshes are a good place to see and hear reed buntings, while the reservoir fringe has breeding great crested grebes.

On the drier slopes woodland takes over and various woodland birds can be seen and heard. In the more open areas you may hear woodcock on early summer evenings.

On the tops, soils are much thinner and woodland is replaced by bracken and in places heather - the reserve has one of the last patches of lowland heath in Derbyshire and the Trust has planted further areas with heather to extend the heathland.