Drakelow

A haven for birdwatchers in the Trent Valley From tantalising glimpses of bitterns in winter to large numbers of cormorants, ducks, waders and birds of prey. There are five hides, an education hide and pond dipping platforms as well as a nature trail! Visit early for the chance to see bird ringing.

Location

Walton Road (Walton on Trent to Drakelow Road)

Burton upon Trent

Derbyshire

DE15 9TE

OS Map Reference

SK 2239 2043

Know before you go

Entry fee

Parking information

Park inside the grounds of the former power station, DE15 9TE

Access

To obtain the access code please email drakelow@derbyshirewt.co.uk. All hides remain closed due to Covid management.

Permit required, please contact the Trust.

The parking area is close to two wheelchair accessible hides (located in close proximity to each other) and these are both along good tracks and boardwalk. The track along the southern boundary of the site (east from the hides) and heading into the reserve is flat and relatively firm and should be suitable for wheelchair access. The two bird hides on the northern areas of the reserve are along muddy paths and/or up steps and are not wheelchair accessible.

Dogs

No dogs permitted

except for assistance dogs

Facilities

Bird hides

When to visit

Opening times

Open during daylight hours

Best time to visit

Winter for the chance to see bittern or at dawn to catch a glimpse of bird ringing

About the reserve

Drakelow Nature Reserve consists of old gravel pits and riverside meadow in the floodplain of the River Trent.

It lies on a natural meander on the south side of the river just upstream of Burton on Trent.

Its location has made it an extremely important flyway for birds for many years and it now forms a significant link in a chain of wetland reserves along the Trent Valley.

The variety of habitat attracts a wide range of species including large numbers of wildfowl in the winter months, breeding and roosting cormorants and a range of smaller species including reed warbler in summer and water rail in winter.

During summer the site is also rich in butterflies and dragonflies with all the commoner species being recorded here.