Introduction

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Introduction

There are a number of woods found in the Moss Valley, these are mostly joined and are collectively known as the Moss Valley Woodlands. The woods which make up these woods include Cock spring Wood, Nor Wood, Owler Carr Wood, Coalpit Wood, Long Wood, Bridle Road Wood, and Whinacre Wood. Some of the woods have been leased by Sheffield City council to the Sheffield Wildlife Trust and are now run as a nature reserve. Others are managed by the Three Valley Project based at Tapton Lock in Chesterfield.

A glade in the woodlands

Woodpeckers are a common sight in the woods

The Woodlands are closest to Coal Aston in Derbyshire, but are also close to Norton on the northern side of Sheffield. The woods are in Derbyshire, and actually form the boundary between Derbyshire and Yorkshire. An approximate grid reference of the woods is SK 378 808.

The moss Valley is designated as a Special Landscape Area under the North East Derbyshire Plan (1999). This states that development likely to detract from the landscape character of the valley will not normally be allowed. The woodlands are also listed as a County wildlife Site by Derbyshire county council. This is a local government designation used to identify areas of importance for conservation that are within Derbyshire but not within the Peak National Park. In addition the woods are classified by English Nature as Ancient Woodland.

The woodlands are along the northern, western and bottom side of the Moss Valley which runs east-west between the River Rother and Batemoor. The woods are fairly low lying and have a high point of 195m. Most of the woodland in the moss Valley Woods are semi-natural ancient woodlands, but all have been extensively modified by the widespread planting of beech and sycamore.

The Moss Brook flows from the lower edges of the eastern flank of the Pennines, eastwards towards the River Rother flood plain beyond the village of Eckington.

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