WildNet - Andy Jones
Biddulph Valley Way and Whitemore Nature Reserve
Location
Know before you go
Dogs
Dogs must be under effective control. Put all dog waste in the bins where provided or take it home. Keep your dog under control - do not let it chase or worry wildlife.
When to visit
Opening times
Open 24/7Best time to visit
All year roundAbout the reserve
The Biddulph Valley Way lies just west of the town of Biddulph following the old railway. The whole surfaced path along an old railway line is around 10 miles and we manage 4.5 miles of it. It is suitable for walkers, cyclists and some parts are also suitable for horse riders. Originally a branch of the North Staffordshire Railway or "Knotty" the path has a mixture of embankments, cuttings, small copses, hedgerows and ditches.
The site includes:
- Embankments and cuttings
- Wooded areas
- Hedgerows and ditches
- Woodland plants - bluebell, wood anemone, wood sorrel and yellow archangel
The Whitemore Local Nature Reserve at the northern end of Biddulph Valley Way is a Staffordshire Site of Biological Importance due to its woodland wildlife and habitat covering 4.3 hectares.
The site is one kilometre long, covering the former embankment and cuttings of the Biddulph to Congleton railway line. Whitemore has become an important woodland refuge for wildlife. Hedges are managed by traditional hedge laying on a 20-year rotation providing a stock proof barrier and wildlife habitat. Non native Sycamore trees are being removed to provide more space for native trees, such as oak, which supports many more species of wildlife.
