Rowsley Sidings

An old railway siding that is now a haven for wildlife with a small mosaic of wet grassland, fen meadow and wet alder woodland

Location

What3Words ///sizes.typically.bleaching
South of Rowsley off the A6 between Matlock and Bakewell

Bakewell

Derbyshire

DE4 2LF

OS Map Reference

SK 2605 6490

Know before you go

Size

1 hectare

Entry fee

Parking information

Park on Harrison Way then take the footpath to the right hand side of the recycling centre; the reserve is on the right.

Access

Up to three quarters of the reserve is frequently under flood water, which has caused several trees to fall over. The best and safest way to visit the reserve is to view it from the new multi-user trail that runs parallel to the reserve at its edge rather than walking into the reserve itself.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

Spring and summer for wild flowers and invertebrates

About the reserve

Once a railway siding, this small mosaic of wet grassland and wet alder woodland has developed naturally on the old sidings where springs have created wet and boggy conditions.

Access is limited due to the very wet conditions but the site can be viewed from the footpath that runs along the embankment.

Depending on water levels visitors are able to view the northern end of the reserve where small grassland glades remain attracting various butterfly species - please keep outside the fence.

The wetter open areas contain flowering plants, including meadowsweet, water forget-me-not, lesser spearwort and marsh thistle - this is a favourite with hoverflies, which breed in the marsh.

The reserve is rich in invertebrates, including many beetles, moths and around 50 species of cranefly, and in the wet areas you may see Tipula maxima, the largest species found in Britain.