Moss Valley, Derbyshire

Moss Valley is a valley in North East Derbyshire, just south of Sheffield, England. Nearby settlements include Eckington, Mosborough, and Ridgeway. The area used to be known for sickle and scythe production. [ [http://www.moss-net.co.uk Moss-Net] accessed 13 December 2007] The Moss Valley is also known as the Eckington Woods and Bluebell Wood. The latter being a local term coined because of the quantity of bluebells which cover the woods in the springtime.

The Moss Brook, one of the cleanest streams in the area, runs down the valley and flows into the River Rother.

A 25.9 hectare strip along the bottom of the valley adjacent to the brook has been designated [ [http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/sssi/sssi_details.cfm?sssi_id=1000381 english-nature.org.uk] ] a Site of Special Scientific Interest by English Nature, particularly due to its value as a high quality habitat for invertebrates. This also includes about 5 hectares of the increasingly rare floodplain grazing marsh habitat.

Sport and Recreation

The Moss Valley is popular among walkers, rambles and cyclists. On a bank holiday the woods can be very busy with people, families and groups exploring the woods or linking the woods into a wider walk.

Mountain bikers are a common sight in the area, and several trails are popular amongst local cyclists on both the Mosborough and the Eckington sides of the valley.

The two ponds on the Ridgeway side are used for private fishing, and there is a car park at this end, as well as the Bridge Inn public house.

Wildlife

There is a variety of common English woodland wildlife in the woods. Species often seen include; badgers, foxes, rabbits and owls.

References

External links

* [http://www.moss-net.co.uk Moss-Net]