Pleasley Pit Country Park and Mining Museum

As its name suggests, the Pleasley Pit Country Park is a reclaimed colliery site. It’s now a Local Nature Reserve with a wide variety of habitats for nature lovers to see record numbers of different species.

Dragon and damsel flies make their home around the smaller ponds on the site, while swans can be seen on the large pond. Shallow pools appeal to summer nesting wading birds and warblers nest in the reed beds. If you’re lucky, you might see grass snakes basking in the sunshine.

The grasslands bloom with wildflowers and, in late spring, you could see bee orchid and common spotted orchid. Hebridean sheep help us to manage the grasslands by grazing.

Much of the Park is on level ground with surfaced tracks for easier access. It's also featured on the Archaelogical Way, adeveloping 11-mile multi-user trail between Pleasley Pit Country Park and Creswell Crags.

A regular programme of guided walks looking at wildlife in the Park is organised by the Pleasley Pit Nature Study Group (www.pleasleypitnaturestudygroup.co.uk).

In dramatic contrast to the surrounding countryside, you will see the remaining pit buildings which are now a scheduled ancient monument. Visitors can view the north and south winding engines, the south shaft pit top with its tubs, cage and railway tracks in place, as well as some mining exhibits.

The North Engine has running days when visitors can see it in operation once a month from April to October. Check the website for dates.

Scroll down the page for a site map of the Park.