The management of our nature reserves would be impossible without our amazing members and volunteers. Together we take care of almost 600 hectares, across Sheffield and Rotherham. These are places where you can enjoy nature and where our conservation work helps the wildlife you love to thrive. Thank you.
Carr House Meadows is patchwork of flower-rich meadows, perched above the Ewden Valley.
At Carr House Meadows, the old English style meadows have been maintained and create a lovely setting.
These meadows are a rare example of the flower rich fields that were once a common sight in England. They abound with colour – bluebells, yellow rattle and swathes of red and white clover. Scabious and orchids can all be found here, as well as the bright pink marsh-loving ragged robin, a rarity in the area.
Cattle do wonders for the meadows: grazing gives more delicate wildflowers the space to grow. They churn up the ground with their hoofs creating niches for wet loving plants to seed and creating an ideal habitat for insects.
Butterflies, beetles, spiders and grasshoppers all thrive in the rich foliage. The hedgerows and drystone walls are home to still more insects, plus a dense population of songbirds. Bullfinch, chiffchaff, willow warbler, blackcap, jay and goldfinch are just some of the breeding birds on this reserve.
If you need to get in touch with us about any of our reserves, please email us or call 0114 263 4335.
Your donations make it possible for us to care for Carr House Meadows nature reserve.
Thank you!
Reserve Advisory Group meetings
RAG meetings are held twice a year to discuss any issues, updates and news about the reserve. Please contact us for more information.
Management Plan 2016 – 2026 Consultation
We’ve been putting together the new management plan for the next ten year management period, from April 2016 to March 2026. Drafts of these documents are available in the ‘Downloads’ section below.
Access Information
Getting There
- Public Transport
- Bus number 57 operates a service from Sheffield to Stocksbridge. The nearest bus stop to the reserve is on the Stocksbridge Road (A6102) at Wharncliffe Side. You’ll need to alight at The Blue Ball pub and walk up Brightholmlee Lane, which turns into Carr House Lane. Find more details on the Travel South Yorkshire website.
- Directions
- Carr House Meadows is just outside the village of Wharncliffe Side, next to Brightholmlee. Carr House Lane runs through the middle of the site, and is a narrow winding lane with limited parking – parking on the lane itself is inadvisable as it is very narrow. Park in the village of Wharncliffe Side instead.
Accessibility
- This reserve is linked to the Ewden Valley by Public Rights of Way. The site is steep throughout, and can get very wet in the winter months over large areas. Therefore this reserve may not be suitable for those with walking difficulties – walks around the nearby reservoirs may be more suitable
Other Information
- Dogs are permitted on the reserve but must be kept on a lead as there may be grazing animals on site.
Downloads
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