Bennerley has had coal mines and blast furnaces on the site in the past. The Erewash canal and Nottingham canal (now disused) run along the edges of the site. Several railway lines ran through the area, one of which is still working. The area is threatened with retail and industrial estates.
Car parking is available in the fisherman's car park off Newtons Lane. There is room for a couple of cars at the old coal plant entrance on Newtons lane just north of the railway bridge. This give quick access to the path which runs along the railway and gives good views over the marsh. The light is good from here as well because you are looking north. Parking is also possible by the football pitches on the Newthorpe sewage works access road. This is reached off the A610 at the exit signposted “NCB Coal Dispersal Plant; Newthorpe Water Reclamation Works”. Access and exit however are only possible from the westbound carriage way of the A610.
Most of the area is pasture land, with plenty of relics of its industrial past, such as disused railway embankments,a brownfield site (ex coal distribution plant) and a sewerage plant. The fields are smallish by today's standards. There are a number of waterways in the area — two canals, the river Erewash and the Giltbrook.
The marsh itself has varying water levels, it can be completely dry in a hot summer. Usually in winter it has several pools.
The Bennerley plant area was cleared of the coal distribution plant in around 2003, and is now reverting back to nature. There are several small ponds on the site notably by the old railway viaduct. These were apparently used to drain the site. The land is probably owned by the Coal Authority.
The Newthorpe sewage works can be viewed from the eastern side and has the usual sewage plant habitat. Settling ponds for the Starlings and Wagtails. Plenty of grass area for the Wagtails and Pipits and hedges suitable for wintering Chiffchaffs.
The site is known for its wintering flock of Golden Plover, which can number a couple of thousand in a ‘good’ winter. These birds are not present all through the winter and even when present can be "spooked" by a Sparrowhawk or maybe a Common Buzzard and can disappear for hours on end. The cycle of the moon may affect their presence as they do not feed here, but only "loaf". A full moon means they can feed at night and return here during the daytime or conversely with no moon have to feed in the daylight away from Bennerely. Lapwings of cause, share the marsh with them. Small gatherings of ducks can occur here in winter on the pools, dabbling ducks such as Teal and Wigeon being the most noticeable. In spring and autumn small numbers of waders such as Little ringed Plover and Redshank pass through.
Willow Tits used to be common along the path which leads from the Erewash canal under the railway bridge and alongside the old coal plant. They are still present but nowhere near as common.
Winter Thrushes are plentiful in the horse pastures and maybe around the sewage works.
Skylarks and Pipits nest in the surrounding fields.
The site has a list of rare birds including Sabine's Gull, but there isn't much point in making a list as the average visit will reveal none of these and I believe that any bird can turn up anywhere at anytime so basically what's the point.
The three ponds by the viaduct hold an interesting collection of damsel and dragonflies.
Any criticisms, corrections or comments to the author Derek Huskisson
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