Willington Wetlands is over 40 hectares of priority habitat comprising open water, reedbed and grassland.

Formerly gravel pits, the nature reserve, owned and managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, is now a haven for birds and is ideal for breeding waders. All year round the site is rich in bird life. In winter, large flocks of wildfowl gather including wigeon, teal, pochard and shoveler. In early spring, curlew gather on wet grassland before they head north to their breeding grounds. In autumn, large numbers of waders pass through. Sand martins, lapwings and common tern all breed in Willington and birds of prey also visit the site, including peregrine, kestrel, hobby and sparrowhawk.

Willington provides important habitat for mammals such as otters and, recently, beavers. It is also home to invertebrates including several species of dragonfly and damselfly.