Chellaston Brickworks Local Nature Reserve - A Hidden Gem?

On the south side of Chellaston heading out towards the A50 hidden behind a collection of houses is Chellaston Brickworks Local Nature Reserve As the name suggests, the Nature Reserve occupies the site originally occupied by Chellaston Brickworks.

Chellaston Brickworks Nature Reserve

Early directories indicate that bricks were being produced in Chellaston as far back as  1871 by a company called Birch and Ryde. Indeed the brickworks were shown on Ordinance Survey Maps as far back as 1882 as shown below. Brick making continued here until 1978 after which it became a local tip before eventually being designated as a nature reserve.

Early maps showing the brickworks in Chellaston

An excellent PDF describing the history of brick making at Chellaston can be found here

 The History of the Chellaston Brickworks

The reserve is bounded by the High Street to the North, Aston Lane to the North East and a new housing estate to the South and an older housing estate to the West.  The main part of the nature reserve actually occupies the area originally designated on the 1923 OS map as Alabaster Pits. However, any indication of the sites original use have long since gone. That includes any of the buildings associated with the manufacture of bricks including the on-site kilns. The reserve is maintained by a group of local volunteers know as The Friends of Chellaston Nature Reserve and also Derby Parks Volunteers. These groups are responsible for the many hedges, step sets and board walks that litter the reserve helping the visitor to get around more safely.

 

Access to the reserve is via Bensley Close. This is a short road at the top of which is a right hand turn into the reserve car-park. This is only a small car-park holding about 10 or so cars. 

Bensley Close approach

Car Park and entrance to the reserve

From the car park there are two main paths. One that heads south taking you through some trees and onto the footpath into Pit Close Recreation Ground. 

Footpath towards the recreation ground

The other, more obvious path, heads due East into the main part of the reserve. 

Main footpath into the reserve

Main footpath into the reserve

Ascending then descending first set of steps brings the visitor onto the access path surrounded by mature trees on either side. On a summers day the sun passes through the trees and bathes the path in speckled light. The topography of the reserve reflects its history and as such it is basically on two levels. The lowest part is the main path which is gained by following the path from the car park and continuing to descend down the steps provided by the volunteers.

Steps into the reserve

Descending down to the main path

Main path through the reserve

The reserve consists of a myriad of pathways weaving in and out of the woodland. The lowest pathway is the largest and gives the impression that perhaps some sort of track once laid here. Maybe to help move the alabaster or bricks however there is no actual evidence of this. There are the remains of a fence that would indicate that access to this main path was once restricted.

Split in the path leading to the upper level (note the old fencing)

Ascending to the upper level

The upper level of the reserve is a good few feet above the lower path and can be accessed by any of the pathways leading off to the left. The upper level consists of another fairly distinct path with a large flat area adjacent. The path leads to a tall communications tower. This is the highest part of the reserve.  Standing facing the communications tower it’s worth noting that the original brickworks buildings would have been just beyond the tower and down to the right.

Flat are of the upper level

Communications tower

From here there are many directions to travel through the various different trees and shrubs. It should be noted that as a former industrial site and dumping ground the reserve is littered with holes and vents, drains and metal covers so care must be taken whilst exploring. The boundary of the upper level is very close to Moorbridge Riding Stables on one side and Aston Lane on the other. Luckily all of the paths on upper level eventually lead back to one main path.

Pathway fence constructed by the volunteers

Pathway boardwalk constructed by the volunteers

Pathway boardwalk constructed by the volunteers

Wildlife

With having such a varied variety of trees and shrubs there is no shortage of wildlife. There are small birds in abundance. Blackbirds, Sparrows, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Greenfinches and Goldfinches to name but a few. There are also larger birds such as Kestrel, Sparrow hawk and Buzzard. During the summer the reserve is awash with many varieties of butterfly and other insets. The flora and fauna around the reserve is vast although a degree of searching is required for some.

Kestrel

Robin

Magpie

Buzzard

Kestrel

Great Tit

Chiff Chaff

Considerations

During the winter months or after periods of heavy rain the pathways in the reserve can become exceptionally muddy, even boggy. Strong boots or wellington’s are highly recommended at these times. Unfortunately it goes without saying that some of the paths in the main reserve aren’t wheelchair friendly so it might be better to visit and check the area out before attempting to take a wheelchair through. 

On the whole Chellaston Brickworks Local Nature Reserve is well worth a visit especially during the spring and summer months when the wildlife and the flora and fauna are getting going. I nearly always return with a decent bird list whenever I visit.  If there is one downside it’s that the reserve has no real expanses of natural water which means there is a lack of the type of waterfowl that tend to populate other similar reserves. However the population of other bird-life more than makes up for that.