Railway tracks have lots of land by the sides that is getting overgrown as the years go on mainly due to lack of use and a more tight spray pattern on weedkiller trains and of course no Steam trains every day with their hot ash burning the cuttings, embankments and old sidings.
Take for example where the Avenue coking plant used to be at Chesterfield, There were sidings next to the main line and the incline where wagons were taken up and over the main-line into the Plants for coal to be emptied and Coke to be filled.
I forget the precise figures but I seem to remember at least 6 MGR trains a day each of 35 HHA's and a class 56 or 2 x class 20.
This area is now called the Wetlands Nature Reserve funded by Derbyshire County Council and managed by the
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. For me it's good as it gives me good disabled access to get photographs AND it's next to the Midland Mainline and Clay Cross North Junction so plenty of photo opportunities. I'm loading some to Photobucket will post the link soon for your perusal
http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...nner/Wildlife/