• Home
• Nature reserves
• Side Farm Meadows

Side Farm Meadows

Location: Cotton, Staffordshire

Grid Reference: SK 057 467

Side Farm is situated in the secluded valley of Cotton Dell in north-east Staffordshire. Perhaps because of the steep and difficult terrain, much of the valley has escaped agricultural ‘improvement’ and provides important habitat for a range of wildlife.

The Side Farm nature reserve includes a combination of acidic grassland, scrub and woodland habitats. The grassland areas are grazed by a mixture of cattle and Jacob’s sheep.

Wildflowers at the reserve

The meadows are sprinkled with wild flowers including Devil’s-bit scabious, oxeye daisy, bird’s-foot-trefoil, harebell and tormentil.

Towards the bottom of the valley the grassland gives way to scrub and woodland composed mainly of birch mixed with ash, holly, hawthorn and alder.

In addition to the flora, the sheltered valley also provides an ideal habitat for invertebrates and large numbers of butterflies can be found on the reserve during the summer including meadow brown, small heath and large skipper. The reserve also includes two ponds, which provide further valuable habitat, supporting five species of dragonfly.

Directions

Click here to download a map of the reserve.

Take the A52 from Stoke to Ashbourne, continue along this road to the village of Whiston. Continue past the golf course (on the right-hand side), then take the next turning on the right (Blakeley Lane). Take the first turning on the left. When you reach a sharp left-hand bend, turn right down an unmarked road. Side Farm Meadows are situated approximately one mile along this road. Please ensure that you close any gates after you. Please note that there are very limited car parking facilities at Side Farm Meadows. The nearest train station is Stoke on Trent which is ten miles from the reserve.