Chesterfield Canal

Managed by Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust thanks to support from members and volunteers, Moss Valley Woodlands nature reserve is a beautiful ancient woodland; carpeted in bluebells, sweet woodruff and wood anemone in spring and early summer. Majestic beech and oak trees tower overhead in these beautiful ancient woodlands, while Dowey Lumb is a small meadow with scattered trees and scrub which is increasingly rich in wildflowers. This south-facing hill is a perfect picnic spot to share with butterflies, and maybe even the elusive roe deer. The woods are teeming with birds including woodpeckers that have taken advantage of the standing dead trees and the insects therein.

Managed by Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust thanks to support from members and volunteers, Woodhouse Washlands nature reserve comprises 53 hectares of grassland, scrub and floodplain grazing marsh. The Washlands’ mosaic of wet and dry grasslands, swamp, wet ditches, ponds and scrub are typical of the landscape which once fringed the River Rother as it passed through its floodplain. During the summer, swallows, swifts and martins can be seen feeding over the area, providing spectacular displays. The nature reserve is managed by a mixture of cattle grazing and periodic maintenance of the ditches, ponds and hedges. Metal sculptures have been installed along the route to represent the industrial history, plants and animals of the area.