Other Nottinghamshire Sites

Some lesser-known sites for wildlife in Nottinghamshire

A selection of pages featuring some of the less well know sites with habitats in Nottinghamshire, warranting further recording and study. In some need of updating with new sites, most of the those featured would probably yield more to interest the entomologist than the ornithologist. But those with a wider interest, will certainly benefit from a visit to any of these sites during the Spring and Summer months.

Sites currently featured include the former Gedling Pit Top, now a country park and greatly reduced in habitat, Shirebrook Pit Wood, showing how our former colliery sites should have been done and Rushpool Open Space in Forest Town, Mansfield.

Rushpool Open Space Nature Reserve This former section of the Rufford and Clipstone Forest Heaths, would once have been part of a rich mosaic of Oak and Birch woodland, with Heather and acid grassland. More recently though, Rushpool Open Space NR was part of a much larger area of undeveloped land known as the Green Belt - land which could not be built on, or developed. However, changing times and changing local and national government priorities, now mean that small areas of land such as Rushpool, are available to buy and develop at the right price, emphasizing the importance of small sites to nature and conservation.

Vexation Lane, Edwinstowe This area of open, sandy ground lies just east of Edwinstowe. Whilst the land is privately owned, there seems no problem with access on a small scale and this site is well worth a visit by the coleopterist, as it has great potential for unusual carabids. The habitat is quite unique in the area. Originally agricultural farmland, the area was landscaped over five years ago in preparation for what was believed to be a Robin Hood styled theme park, complete with lake and island. The business venture fell through and the site has remained untouched since, developing into what may well prove to be a temporary site of entomological interest.

Gedling Pit Top Gedling Pit Top is just about the best of the former colliery sites in Nottinghamshire, due to its largely unspoil nature and would be a joy for the ornithologist or entomologist to work methodiaclly. For those wishing to undertake such a project, here is the chance to thoroughly monitor how the diversity of a large site changes after the imprint left by man.

Budby/Gleadthorpe A recently created area of water, formed when the River Meden flooded during June and July 2007. Having the river flowing through the site, means that some of the surface area should remain ice free during periods of even very cold weather. The site came to prominence during December 2007, when there was a large build-up of finches including 150+ Brambling, but this site should offer more in time.

Hills and Holes SSSI Hills and Holes is an area of Calcareous grassland on the site of former limestone workings. The River Meden flows through the site, effectively splitting it into four sections. Hills and Holes is a completely underwatched site, yet one of great potential and interest for the naturalist, whatever their particular field of study. The site suffers from only small amounts of disturbance, which is refreshingly surprising in view of it's location in relation to nearby housing.

Holborn Hill and Hanger Hill Plantations Two beautiful areas of mature Beech woodland - a habitat which is rarely found in Nottinghamshire. Both areas are surrounded by typical Pine plantation to the east and arable farmland to the west. The understorey is thin, composed of areas of short grass and bramble.

Warsop Main Pit Top A typical former pit top site, much of which has been typically overplanted with Pines and native deciduous trees. As with any pit top, the general landscape is extremely undulating in parts. Three main areas of water provide excellent dragonfly habitat (including Red-veined Darter) and an increasing variety of naturalised flora attract good numbers of commoner butterflies and other insects.

Bevercotes Pit Wood A former pit top site which has been landscaped to create some superb habitat and now forms the newly planted Bevercotes Pit Wood. The Rivers Maun and Meden both flow through the site and there are some areas of mature woodland. Several areas of water provide superb dragonfly habitat, but the site contains a varied range of flora and fauna.

Shirebrook Pit Wood As a former pit top site, Shirebrook Pit Wood is at first glance, very similar to the former pit tops of Warsop Main and Bevercotes. There has been the usual large-scale planting of native shrubs and trees and the whole site has been totally landscaped from the days when I regularly visited the site during the early 1990's. The Derbyshire side has now been turned over to industrial development, leaving Nottinghamshire to benefit from some brand new habitat.