Hilton Gravel Pits, Kelvin Lawrence

Bat, Robert Booth

Great crested newt, The Wildlife Trusts

Emperor Dragonfly, Tony Pioli

Great crested grebe, Hilton Pete via Flickr

Hilton Gravel Pits

These worked-out gravel pits provide refuge for a number of species in fact it's one of the best places to see bats and dragonflies in Derbyshire! There's a pond dipping platform and loads of trails - enjoy!

Location

Willowpit Lane,
Hilton

Derby

Derbyshire

DE65 5FW

OS Map Reference

SK 2536 3134

Know before you go

Size

29 hectares

Entry fee

Parking information

Park on Willowpit Lane

Grazing animals

Yes

Walking trails

Lots of trails all around the reserve to explore. The water in the ponds is deep - please keep to the paths.

Access

There is disabled access to about half the reserve.

The field gate near the site’s entrance has been fitted with a RADAR lock allowing access to larger wheelchairs or mobility buggies (providing users have a RADAR key) and the track along here is in largely good condition and provides access to a bird viewing screen. Paths on other areas of the site are flat but are often muddy and unsuitable for wheelchairs.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

Evenings for bats, February for the great crested grebe's mating dance, summer for orchids and autumn for fungi

About the reserve

The combination of lakes and ponds, woodland and sheltered sunny areas make the former gravel pits at Hilton a haven for wildlife.

The reserve supports species that are fast declining in this country including the great crested newt and black poplar.

The reserve is well-known for its dragonflies and damselflies. Fifteen species have been recorded here, among them the emperor and ruddy darter dragonflies and the emerald and red-eyed damselflies.

The old gravel pit settling beds provide a sheltered area where they can feed and where plants such as southern marsh orchids and common twayblade have now established themselves. The ponds and lakes attract many species of waterfowl. You can see coot, great crested grebe and tufted duck, while in spring the water is an amphibian nursery - frogs, toads, great crested and common newts all breed here.

A streak of blue flashing across the water will alert you to the presence of a kingfisher. Walk through the woodland in autumn and you will find a wealth of fungi growing near the path - among the many species that flourish here are fly agaric and shaggy inkcap.

Please note that dogs are no longer permitted in the main area of this nature reserve. This is to protect our grazing livestock and the reserve's wildlife. Dogs are still permitted on the main perimeter track that runs from Willowpit Lane to Sutton Lane.