February is the time to see the annual spectacular display of Snowdrops in bloom at Dimminsdale Nature Reserve, by Staunton Harold reservoir. The perfect white petals and vivid green stems are just the tonic for the winter blues.

Dimminsdale is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), is owned by Severn Trent Water and is on our South Derbyshire District and County border.

Besides the snowdrops, there are plenty of different species of flora and fauna to spot including hares, green woodpeckers, sheep's fescue, heath grass, heath bedstraw and harebell.

Everyone is invited to see the display. Visitors should be careful to keep to the paths as there are several old mine shafts on the reserve.

Dimminsdale is at map reference SK 376219. View map

Take the B587, north from the A42 Ashby junction. Follow the road for 2km past Staunton Harold Hall, take the first left towards Calke and park in the picnic area car park, which is on the left just before reaching the reservoir. The entrance to Dimminsdale is on the roadside about 50m before bridge over the reservoir.