Natural England - Lower Derwent Valley NNR
Lower Derwent Valley NNR
The Lower Derwent Valley NNR comprises a series of flood meadows, pastures and woodlands.
County: East Riding of Yorkshire
Main habitats: Lowland Grassland
Area: 467 Ha
Site map: Nature on the Map.
Although most NNRs are managed by Natural England, 88 are wholly or partly managed by other bodies approved by Council, under Section 35 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Our Capital Grants Scheme helps with the management and upkeep of these reserves.
Parts of the Lower Derwent reserve are managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and the Carstairs Countryside Trust.
The Lower Derwent Valley NNR supports a rich diversity of plant species and outstanding populations of breeding and wintering birds. In light of this, the reserve has been declared a Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Ramsar site.
Free summer events program at the reserve 
How to get there
The individual sites making up the reserve lie in a section of the Derwent river valley between its junction with the B1228 in the north, to the village of Wressle in the south.
The northern end of the reserve is near the village of Sutton upon Derwent, 11 km south east of York.
There are a number of villages within 0.5 to 2 km of the river. From north to south these are: Sutton upon Derwent, Wheldrake, Storwood, East Cottingworth, Thorganby, Ellerton, Aughton, North Duffield, Bubwith, Gunby, South Duffield, Breighton and Wressle. By car, these villages are accessed via minor roads from the B1228, A19 and A163.
The nearest train station is in Wressle served by Northern Rail. Bus services from York to Sutton upon Derwent are provided by the East Yorkshire Motor Service.
Bus services from York to Wheldrake and North Duffield are provided by First Group.
Additional travel information for the area is provided by Yorkshire Traveline.
There are three main access points to the reserve: North Duffield Carrs car park (1.5 km east of North Duffield, off the A163), Bank Island car park, and the nearby Wheldrake car park, both 1 to 1.5 km south-east of Wheldrake, off the minor road from Wheldrake to Thorganby.
Please note: vehicular access to the car parks at Bank Island and North Duffield Carrs is through a height restriction barrier of 2.1m. Any groups who wish to access the car parks by either bus or mini bus are requested to contact the Site Manager on 01904 435500 at least a week before their visit.
The North Duffield Carrs car park has two hides, wheelchair access, ample car parking and bicycle racks. Bank Island has two hides and bicycle racks. Wheldrake has six hides.
Accommodation
There are two camping and caravan sites 2 and 4 km north of Wheldrake village.
For details of other accommodation in the area go to the East Ridings of Yorkshire Council website.
What to see
Plant life: the reserve's wetter areas support stands of reed sweetgrass and bladder sedge, together with marsh stitchwort and tubular water-dropwort. Drier fields are rich in sedges and characteristic grasses, including meadow fescue, tall fescue and meadow foxtail. The rich herb flora includes marsh valerian, sneezewort, marsh arrowgrass and notably, early marsh and green-winged orchid, and the rare marsh pea. Aquatic habitats are also important. Ditches contain species such as water violet, greater water parsnip and flat-stalked pondweed.
Birdlife: the site supports a rich breeding bird community with more than 80 species recorded in recent years. Breeding wildfowl are of particular importance, with 13 species found here including the pintail, gargany and gadwall. Breeding waders seen in the area include curlew, lapwing, snipe and redshank.
In winter the grasslands support nationally important numbers of teal, Bewick's swan, wigeon, pochard and golden plover.
Mammals: the noctule, pipistrelle and Daubenton's bat are seen regularly, with occasional sightings of the brown long-eared bat. Brown hares are very common at the site as are common and pygmy shrew. There is a large population of field voles, and bank and water voles may also be seen.
To download an information leaflet about this Reserve, click here .