Our Reserves

Permits are required for some of our nature reserves. This is to control the number of visitors onto sensitive areas. Permits are available from the Trust office. Members simply need to phone to be issued with the current gate and hide numbers, while non-members can purchase a permit for £12.

Mapperley Wood

(Grid reference SK439433)

Location: East of Mapperley Reservoir, on the southern edge of Shipley Country Park.

Nearest Town:  Ilkeston

Grid reference:  SK 439433  (OS Landranger 129 Nottingham & Loughborough)

How to get there: From the A609 turn north in West Hallam and proceed through Mapperley village across the dam. Park in the car park on the left, at the northern end of the dam.

Access: Paths open at all times, but become muddy in winter. Disabled access to the hide, for which a permit is required. Permits are available from the Trust office; these are free to Trust members and £12 to non-members

On the southern edge of Shipley Country Park is Mapperley Wood nature reserve, a narrow belt of woodland with a stream running through it. This reserve contains some of the county's most vulnerable habitats, including mature oak woodland, wetland and a small area of acid grassland.

Several paths run through the reserve and the Trust has provided a hide for permit holders to watch and appreciate the wildlife of the area. From here you may see birds such as coot, moorhen, mallard and kingfisher and hear many of the woodland birds.

In spring the woodland is a glorious carpet of bluebells. As summer approaches, it bursts with birdsong - you may hear chiffchaff, willow warbler and blackcap as well as the more familiar calls of robin and chaffinch.Great spotted woodpecker and nuthatch also make their homes among the trees.

In winter small numbers of waterfowl visit the ponds and water rail can be found in the marshy areas, its presence only given away by its distinctive squealing call.

More Information:
Hide permits available from the Trust office.