Other wildlife: The wetlands are best known for their birdlife. The Erewash valley is now a known migration route for birds on the move linking several wetland hotspots along the valley. The site was brought to prominence in the mid 1970’s through the ‘patch work’ of Paul Beresford & Dr Paul Bagguley. Back then these two intrepid birders found an impressive list of rarities allowing many visiting birders for example to add Purple Heron & Night Heron to their Derbyshire lists amongst a real treasure trove of finds. David Sneap & Des Dean who have continued to enable rare birds to be enjoyed by many,including Spoonbill & American Wigeon, now cover & Warden the site with their band of volunteers. The meadows in the spring are home to displaying Lapwings and drumming Snipe. This former industrial area may seem an unlikely place for wildlife, but the River Erewash supports invertebrates, as well as an important population of water voles. In spring and summer, the reserve ponds and wet sections of the canal area a refuge for Grass snakes and amphibians. Butterflies and many other insects breed and feed amongst the grasslands.