Skylarks

An area of disused gravel pits with important areas of marginal vegetation and willow woodland habitat

Location

Adbolton lane

Holme Pierrepont

Nottinghamshire

NG12 2LU

Know before you go

Size

47 hectares

Entry fee

Free access

Parking information

Parking is available on Adbolton Lane – there is a small car park at the main entrance to the south of the road, and a layby on the northern side.

Grazing animals

Cattle graze the fenced off compartments during the summer and autumn.

Walking trails

There are four designated trails. Site is accessible for wheelchair users.

Access

There are cafés and toilets at Holme Pierrepont Country Park – a short walk or drive away.

Access to the reserve is open at all times. The site has accessible trails for wheelchair users and pushchairs. Contact the Trust for more information.

Dogs

On a lead

Facilities

Picnic area

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

Seasonal highlights include Grey wagtail and Reed warbler in Summer, and Redwing, Fieldfare and Gadwall in Winter.

About the reserve

This reserve, created in 1982, is believed to be the first of its kind in the country laid out specifically for the benefit of wheelchair users. Once a commercial gravel pit, this area has been colonised with plants and animals. A range of wetland birds can be seen on the reserve, such as great crested grebe, kingfisher and reed bunting.

In 2014 with significant support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Environment Agency, Rushcliffe Borough Council and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s members and donors, we were able to purchase land adjacent to the original Skylarks site and embark on the exciting ‘Not a Blott on the Landscape’ project, an ambitious program to transform the newly purchased land into a 115 acre accessible nature reserve, providing a vital natural haven, protecting important habitats and securing a legacy for the 100,000 people who live within 10 minutes of the reserve.

The funding available allowed us to significantly invest in access improvements and engagement programmes set to work to reach out to people and inspire them to visit, participate and learn. Key to this idea was that the project should engage people across varied themes, namely the natural heritage and the archaeological significance of the site.

Skylarks Nature Reserve has routes and walks for all, including a 2 mile footpath linking viewing screens and board-walks, situated at prime locations around the site, allowing fantastic views and access to lakes, woodlands, ponds, reed beds, meadows, scrapes and islands.