Whistlewood Common is situated just off The Common between Melbourne and Ticknall. The postcode for finding us is DE73 8DH. This is not a postal address.
You can find us almost opposite Dovesite Business Park. There is a sign at the top of our track which says Melbourne Animal Farm and the entrance to Whistlewood is half way down on the right. The What3Words for this is fields.though.plotter.
Parking: We have on-field parking for larger events, but that is weather dependent. We also have approximately 20 all weather parking bays and 2 disabled parking bays. There is also a lay-by near Shepherds Lane.
Public access to the site does not include access to our main parking. There are a couple of visitor parking spaces just to the right of our main gate and there is a pedestrian access gate.
Walking: The site is about a 25 minute walk from either Ticknall Village Hall or Melbourne town centre.
Cycling: We are approximately 11 miles from the centre of Derby; Google says it would take about an hour to cycle here. Some of this would be on National Cycle Route 6. You could either exit this cycle path at Kings Newton or Station Road/Melbourne Road exit. Then it would be a short cycle through Melbourne to our site. Link to National Cycle Route No.6 webpage.
Public Transport: Number 2 bus service operates between Derby and Swadlincote. These currently run every hour. Link to Arriva webpage (What3Words abruptly.sprains.healers is the stop nearest us from the direction of Derby – ‘The Common’ and decreased.mint.tangling is the stop nearest from the direction of Swadlincote – ‘opposite Bog Lane’)
The nearest train station is: Derby (please note – the no.2 bus doesn’t go directly from the train station). Taxis take approximately 25 minutes to get here – it’s 8.5 miles from the station.
Disabled access:
There is disabled parking on site (What3Words – chimp.obviously.spicy), and our roundhouse, toilets and community gardens are all wheelchair accessible.
Dogs:
We of course welcome assistance dogs. Generally dogs are not allowed at Whistlewood as we grow food and children play on the site. They are allowed at most volunteering sessions and some Whistlewood organised events – they will be clearly indicated with a Dog symbol. Guidelines that we request be followed: on short leads, clean up and take home poo, be respectful of other site users as not everyone likes dogs, some areas may still be no dogs to protect wildlife.