Wildlife & Outdoors
Drakelow Nature Reserve
Wetland, riverside meadow and birdwatching beside the River Trent
Drakelow Nature Reserve is managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust on the south side of the River Trent. Former gravel pits, riverside meadow and wetland habitat make it an important stopping point for birds moving through the Trent Valley.
Check access before travelling
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust currently requires visitors to obtain a permit and access code. Parking is inside the former power station grounds, and access arrangements can change.
The reserve is within a flood zone and can become inaccessible after wet weather or during flood events. Dogs are not permitted, except assistance dogs.
A Trent Valley birdwatching site
Winter can bring bittern sightings, while cormorants, ducks, waders and birds of prey also use the reserve. Visitor features include bird hides, a viewing screen, pond dipping platforms and a nature trail.
The combination of open water, wetland, meadow and the nearby River Trent gives the reserve a different character through the seasons.
Some areas are easier to reach than others
The parking area is close to wheelchair accessible hides reached by good tracks and boardwalk. The southern track is generally flat and firm. Hides in the northern part of the reserve are reached by muddier paths or steps and are not wheelchair accessible.
Wildlife conservation beside the power station
Wildlife conservation at Drakelow developed alongside the former power station. A nature trail opened in 1967 and a wildfowl reserve followed in 1970. The scheme received a Countryside Award in 1970 and the reserve is now managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.
The reserve remains part of the area’s green infrastructure
Planning documents for the former Drakelow Power Station site state that the existing nature reserve is to be retained, with ecological assets protected as the surrounding land changes.
Check current access arrangements, parking advice and reserve conditions before visiting.
Open official reserve page → More OutdoorsNature & OutdoorsFind more walks, woodland, water and outdoor places around Drakelow and the National Forest.
Browse outdoor guide →Visitor information: Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, checked September 2026. Historical detail is supported by research published by the Museum of English Rural Life and Manchester Metropolitan University. Access arrangements and flood conditions can change, so check the official reserve page before travelling.