Rivers: Derwent
The Derwent River Valley forms a major and characteristic feature in the Peak District. Where it traverses the limestone of the White Peak, especially from Matlock to Cromford, it forms a steep-sided valley where limestone cliffs loom over the river. Past Cromford, as it enters the shales, grit and sandstone the valley widens out. As a wetland habitat, the river itself contains a number of plant species, including pondweeds, sedges and reeds.
The river also supports many invertebrates, and in summer dragonflies and damselflies can be seen darting over the water, whilst birds such as the little grebe, grey wagtail, dipper, mallard and moorhen are common, year-round sights along the river.
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Other rare and elusive species make their home along the river, including the water vole and kingfisher, both key biodiversity action plan (BAP) species. The white-clawed crayfish, another key BAP species has a more tenuous hold in the river.
The Derwent River could, in the future, also provide a good habitat for the slowly returning otter. Within flatter areas of the floodplain wet grassland is present, which supports rushes alongside flowers suh as ragged robin and common marsh bedstraw. Where slopes are steeper, semi-natural oak/birch woodland is an important feature.
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