Holme Pierrepont is a very large complex of flooded gravel pits. All quarrying activity in the area has now ceased and the various lakes that remain, fulfil a variety of leisure activities as well as being great for wildlife watching.
The major locations are:
- "The A52 pit" is the large lake at the western end of the complex which is private and not open to the public but which has attracted many rare birds and is important for overwintering wildfowl.
- The rowing course is a big sheet of water that is regularly used for water sports though when disturbance is light, it can attract passage migrants and some birds seem unconcerned by rowers. Black Terns are likely in May.
- The 'finger ponds' to the north-east are now heavily wooded and not so interesting as when they were freshly abandoned.
- Ponds and scrub to the north of the A52 pit are becoming difficult to access at least in parts but this is a relatively undisturbed area and can turn up surprises. There are regular Cetti's Warblers and a spattering of scarce plants to be found.
- Skylarks NWT reserve was originally just the pit and surrounds to the south of the rowing course (it was the first wheelchair accessible reserve) but around 2014 a big area of land to its south was aquired by the Notts Trust and landscpaed for wildlife. Car parking for easy access to this is marked by the arrow on the Streetmap link below.
How to get there:
Access by road from the A52 following signs for the National Watersports Centre. The most interesting areas are at the eastern end of the rowing course and there is parking available at the entrance to Skylarks reserve. For the main centre car park fork left before the camp site into the water sports centre itself.
NGR SK 610 389
Click HERE for a link to Streetmap (Opens in a new Window)
