Pleasley Pit Country Park and Local Nature Reserve (LNR)

Pleasley Pit Country Park, as its name suggests, is a reclaimed colliery site. 

Now it is such a great place for nature lovers to see many different birds, wildflowers, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies that it has just been designated as a local nature reserve.

In dramatic contrast to the country park you can see the remaining pit buildings which are now a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM).

Barbecues are not permitted at any of our sites.

This newly dedicated Local Nature Reserve contains a wide variety of habitats including:

• a large pond with bird hide (keys are available to members of the Pleasley Pit Nature Study Group) - look for the swans that regularly nest and rear their cygnets here
• smaller ponds where a record 19 species of dragonfly have been reported
• you might also see the elusive grass snake basking in the sunshine
• shallow pools that appeal to summer nesting wading birds
• reed beds - listen for the warblers that nest here
• magnesian limestone grassland - great for wildflowers, in late spring look for bee orchid and common spotted orchid, and see if you can see the Hebridean sheep that help us manage the grasslands by grazing
• some small plantation woodlands that are slowly maturing

A regular programme of guided walks looking at wildlife in the park is organised by the Pleasley Pit Nature Study Group. Volunteers from the group run a community café which is open from 10am to 2pm every day, serving hot and cold drinks and snacks. There are toilets on site that the public can access when the café is open.

Much of the country park is on level ground with surfaced tracks for easier access. The park links to The Phoenix Greenways – a series of linked paths and trails to help you explore some of our beautiful landscape on foot, on your bike or even on horseback.

If you want to visit the pit buildings look out for the occasional open days held by The Pleasley Pit Trust.

Directions

You'll find the park off the roundabout where the A617 meets the A6191 between Chesterfield and Mansfield. Take the Chesterfield Road exit signed to Pleasley Village then turn right onto Pit Lane. Entry to the Country Park car park is on Pit Lane (Ordnance Survey grid ref SK 499 643).