Trent "Villager V3 Derby to Burton (daily) runs along the B5008 and operates in "hail and ride" fashion in the Willington area.
Facilities
Viewing platforms are now available with more facilities planned for the future, including a footpath network. However at present there are no other facilites although the village holds three excellent pubs. Do not leave valuables in your car.
What to see
This is a typical Trent Valley ex-gravel pit site close to the river and village of Willington. The rough access road originally ran down to a ferry across the Trent
but now terminates well before the river. The road essentially divides the site in two with large lagoons on each side and at the end. Willington GP is the site where Cormorants first bred in the County
in 1998, however since the angling syndicate aquired the lakes to the south of the road where the nest sites were situated, breeding has not occured. The DOS Records Database lists 131 species recorded
in 2006 (including a few escapes) with highlights including Garganey, Little Gull, Spotted Redshank and Wood Sandpiper. The site is best during Spring and Autumn migration when large numbers of waders pass through. Several species breed on site including Redshank.
Raptors are another speciality of the site. The pair of Peregrines that have nested since 1994 on the cooling towers at Willington Power Station (now closed) can be regularly seen hunting over the
site, especially in Winter. Hobbies can be seen during the summer months and become almost guaranteed during late August and September. Marsh Harriers are regular pasage migrants in late April and
early May each year and Short-eared Owls can be seen hunting during the Winter months. Barn Owls have also been seen hunting on site. This is also a good site for Green Woodpecker,
especially vocal during April and May. Both Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns breed as do a range of water fowl.
There are several species of the more common dragonflies and damselflies on the site and butterflies such as Orange Tip and Speckled Wood can also be seen.
DOS Verdict
Now owned by the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust with a secure future. A very good site for Spring and Autumn migration. One of the best wader and raptor sites in the County. Has the largest submitted
number of records in the DOS Records Database.
(Thanks also to Brian Cuttell for some of the above)
Working Parties 2007
The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust hold Work Parties every third Sunday in the month from 10-00 to 14-00. Meet at the concrete blocks on Meadow Lane (SK291276)
Please bring any food and drink you will need plus old work clothes, warm/waterproof clothing, stout footware and/or wellingtons (you will get wet and dirty, so do not bring your best kit!)
- 15 April
- 17 June
- 19 August
- 16 September
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