Owner:Derbyshire County Council Countryside Service

Habitat:a reclaimed colliery with summer wildflower meadows, young broadleafed plantations with areas of Lodge Pole Pine. The main Dragonfly habitats are two ponds close by the carpark which within easy walking distance, are ideal for those watchers amongst us who can no longer walk very far.

Access:The Country Park is between the villages of Grassmoor off the B6038 and Temple Normanton off the B6039. The main car park is off Birkin Lane at SK 414674. A new Five Pits Trail leaflet is available from Derbyshire County Council Countryside Service, The Countryside Centre, 23 Market Street Clay Cross Chesterfield Derbyshire S45 9JE 01246 866960 or email, claycrosscountryside@Derbyshire.gov.uk 

Specialities:Ruddy Darter stands out amongst the usual suspects. The main area to check is the small pond by the car park where adults visit from the marsh area across the road. This interesting habitat is on land with no public access.

Other Natural History interest in the summer: Large areas of wildflower meadows. The opportunity to explore the Five Pits Trail to watch Farmland birds and grassland butterflies. This traffic free multiuser Trail is nearly eight miles long and allows visitors to discover woodlands and a variety of wetland habitats.

Associated sites:Five Pits Trail, Wolfie Pond SK417663, Williamthorpe Ponds SK435666, Whistling Meadow SK 433656 a recently created small field pond with associated plantations a good spot for Broad-bodied Chasers Libellula depressa. Tibshelf Ponds SK 442601 a good water for Emperor Dragonflies Anax imperator