The Moss Valley lies in north-eastDerbyshire just a few miles to the south-east of Sheffield. The Valley follows the course of the Moss Brook, one of the cleanest Rivers in the area. It is quite a wide Valley, surrounded by the large urban areas of Sheffield and Chesterfield. The Valley covers an area of approximately 4 square miles that has been created by the Moss Brook and its tributaries. The Moss Brook rises in the west of the Valley and flows into the River Rother at its most southerly corner.
This Valley was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) during the 1980's and is now in the hands of English Nature. The Moss Brook is a small, fast flowing stream of extremely high quality water. The Valley is situated on the Sandstone and Shales of an area that is Geographically known as the Coal Measures.
The Coal Measures cover a vast area of the north Midlands of England and lie in an area that forms a part of the Carboniferous region. Huge forests once covered this area millions of years ago and it is here that some of the richest Coal Seams in Europe are to be found. It is not surprising
that during the past couple of centuries the majority of these Coal Seams have been extensively exploited and as a result dozens of small Collieries sprung up in this area. One of the largest Collieries in this area was at Eckington at the southern end of the Moss Valley. This Colliery only closed in 1998 and was one of the last working Coal Mines in the Country.
During the early part of the nineteenth century several small Cottage Industries grew up along the Moss Brook. These were powered by Water Wheels that took advantage of the fast flowing stream. These Industries were mainly small Forges associated with the rapidly expanding Tool and Machinery manufacturers that were establishing themselves in Sheffield around that same time. The Moss Valley quickly became associated with the making of Sickles and Scythes.
There is still plenty of evidence of these former Industries in the Valley. These include several rows of original 18th century Cottages within the Valley, especially at the little Hamlets of Ford and Birleyhay, plus a mineshaft complete with its hoisting wheel in the middle of the Woods near Eckington. Sadly there are no Water Wheels left in the Valley but there is evidence of where these have been.
The Moss Valley is one of the most picturesque of all of the Valleys in north-east Derbyshire and it is also of extreme importance for the fauna and flora that it supports.
THE WILDLIFE OF THE MOSS VALLEY
The diverse Wildlife of the Moss Valley is the main reason why the Moss Valley became a SSSI and is now managed by English Nature. The soil in the Valley is very rich and fertile creating the perfect environment for a whole range of different Plants, Birds, Animals and Insects.
The land surrounding the Valley consists of gradually sloping Arable Farmland, dissected into patterns like a patchwork quilt. This is interspersed with Pasture and scattered bushes and all of this land is surrounded by ancient Hedgerows. Lower down in the Valley there are much more mature ancient Woodlands that consist predominantly of Oak, Ash, Sycamore, Beech and Elm. Around the Moss Brook in the Valley bottom the vegetation changes again and here it is more of Scrub and undergrowth interspersed with Hawthorn and Willow. There are many green lanes, small areas of wetland and many ditches and water courses.
At the southern end of the Valley close to the village of Eckington there is an extensive area of marshland that is dominated by sedges and reeds. Here the locally rare Sneezewort Plant grows abundantly as well as Southern Marsh Orchids.
Amongst the rare Insects found in the Moss Valley are two rare species of Hoverflies (called Xylota Florum and Syrphus Torvus) both of which are virtually unknown from anywhere else in the British Isles.
The Moss Brook holds White-clawed Crawfish and Brown Trout as well as all of the more common types of water species.
Birdlife in the Moss Valley is abundant and includes three species of Woodpecker, and three species of Owl. Nightingale, Honey Buzzard, and Hobby have all been recorded here during the summer months, but although the habitat for these species is ideal, breeding has not been proven.
MY THOUGHTS
I am fortunate to live within walking distance of the lower part of the Moss Valley and I often undertake a circular 5-mile walk from my home in the suburbs of Sheffield that takes in the quaint, picturesque Hamlets of Ford and Birleyhay.
Ford is a beautiful little place set right in the bottom of the Valley. There are about a dozen scattered dwellings and not a lot else. The main features of Ford are a Ford across the road, where a small tributary of the Moss Brook crosses the road, a large Pub called the Bridge Inn.
The Bridge Inn is positioned in a very enviable spot right next to the River. The location is very rural and there is a large car park and picnic area where you can sit out in the summer. If you are lucky you might just catch the sight of a turquoise-blue Kingfisher dashing upstream right past you.
Birleyhay is my favourite part of the whole Moss Valley, tucked away right at the end of a dead end road that leads only to Birleyhay Farm and two rows of Cottages, it can be easily overlooked. There is a Public right of way along this road that continues past these Cottages and through the woods beyond but this is not publicised by the residents who have put large "Private Keep Out!" signs at the end of the road.
I have always said that if my numbers ever came up on the National Lottery that the Cottages at Birleyhay are where I would like to live. Wheel Cottage is my particular favourite, positioned right on the edge of Birleyhay Dam this 18th century Cottage takes its name from one of the many Water Wheels that were once in this area.
Birleyhay Dam is a very picturesque Mill Pond that is teeming with Wildlife. Breeding Birds here include Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Little Grebe, Mute Swan, Kingfisher, Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler. There was also a resident pair of feral Black Swans here for many years that built a nest every year and occasionally bred and there is a large Heronry nearby.
If I am feeling particularly energetic then I occasionally extend my walk beyond Ford and through the woods to Eckington. This is a 12-mile circular walk from my house so it is not a route that I take very often, but if the weather is nice it is well worth the extra effort and there is always the option of catching the bus back from Eckington.
If you are ever in north-east Derbyshire and fancy some nice clean, fresh air in a beautiful, picturesque location then a visit to the Moss Valley is highly recommended. I would particularly recommend a visit to the Moss Valley in Spring when the woods are full of Bluebells and Wood Anemones.
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