Allestree Park Nature Trail

Start the trail by walking from the car park 5 Further along the path there are two seats. You can enjoy You may see water birds such as Coots and Moorhens from towards the Hall. Once out of the car park, turn the view over the lower lake from them. The trees along the here. They are members of the Rail group. They aren't left along the edge of the woodland. shore are mostly Alders, with their cone-like, seed-bearing Coot related to ducks because they have thin bills and structures. These seeds can float and the tree can grow with un-webbed feet, except for side flaps on the toes. Both are 1 The thorny shrubs along the edge are its roots under water. mainly black in colour. However, the Coot, which is larger, Common Hawthorn. In May, they have has a distinctive white flash on its forehead. The Moorhen masses of white flowers. In autumn and winter The boundary of Gorses' Wood, behind the seats, is lined by has a brilliant red forehead and bill. Both are very these develop into dark red berries, known as 'haws'. old Yew trees. They are related to conifers. Instead of having aggressive, chasing off territorial rivals with a great flurry a cone, there is a pink fleshy berry enclosing a highly of splashing and noise. A comparatively young Common or English Oak Apple poisonous seed. 7 The upper dam separates the larger lower lake from the Oak stands between the post and the seat. Gall Aviary and menagerie Nature trail In summer, its wavy edged leaves are smaller upper lake. It has a good cover of trees and plants. V unmistakable. Oaks often bear 2 Point of interest To the left of the path at this point was a superb Common different kinds of growths, called Allestree Start of trail Woodland Oak. This was a victim of a severe storm in November galls. These are caused by different Hall 2002. The remains have been left as a wildlife habitat to species of tiny wasps. They lay Lake slowly decay back into the soil. N P their eggs inside the tissues of the The tall plant which, in summer, has pink hooded flowers, tree. The Marble Gall and Oak Apple 1 Housing Knopper is a Himalayan Balsam, also known as Policeman's Helmet. Gall can be found on the shoot ends, Gall 12 A Pedestrian access It's so named because of the shape of the flowers. The while the grotesque Knopper Gall seed pods explode if you touch them, throwing out hard sometimes grows on the acorns. 2 V Vehicular access black seeds. It was introduced into Britain in the 19th Continue for about 100 metres along the P Car parking Century. woodland edge and then go into the wood at the marker. The swampy margin of the upper lake is richer in alders and willows because people don’t disturb it. 2 The gigantic tree with the smooth bark is a Beech. Its spreading Gorses' form indicates that it originally grew in the open, which means that 11 3 Wood 8 The trampled area Canada Goose the woodland around it isn't that old. The spore-producing bodies of 4 around the picnic table is a the Beech Bracket Fungus are found on the trunk all year round, a Golf favourite place for people to sure sign that this venerable giant is slowly dying. Course 5 watch the water birds. The bird

DERBY CITY COUNCIL identification board shows you The other trees are mainly Sycamore, a vigorous ‘invader’, introduced the different species you may from southern Europe and the closely related Norway Maple, with 9 Lower lake 10 6 A see.Warning - The geese can be its more pointed leaves. rather inquisitive, so be careful! From the Beech tree turn right, continuing down the hill towards the Upper Duffield Road, A6 There are two species of geese lake lake. After a short walk, the woodland edge opens up on your left. Beech leaves with nuts Evans Avenue here. The larger, pale coloured ones, are the domesticated Chinese Geese. The smaller, dark coloured ones, are 3 Here you'll find a Holly bush, with a rather gnarled Horse Chesnut 8 Scale 7 Canada Geese. These are natives of North America and nearby. From the opening at the woodland edge, you have were introduced to Britain as long ago as the 17th Century. 0 100 metres Yew needles an excellent view eastwards over the Derwent Valley. The with berries The Canada Geese regularly fly in spectacular honking wooded hill on the skyline is Duffield Bank which is A 0 100 yards formations to and from the lake. composed of thick-bedded Millstone Grit. From here continue alongside the lake. Go right round the From the Holly bush bear right and continue Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. narrow end of the lake. You will have to leave the broad City Council. LA077755(2003) Short Avenue along the path until you reach the lake. The Ordnance Survey mapping included path and walk on the grass, which can be muddy, to the within this web-site is provided by Main Avenue , under licence from next number post. 4 Ordnance Survey, in order to fulfil its public This artificial lake was constructed in function to act as a planning authority. 9 Goat Willow colonised this area, growing from wind Horse 1825 for Sir William Evans of Allestree The ground beneath the Yew trees has no plant-growth. This blown seeds, after mud dredged from the upper lake was Chesnut Hall. On your right, you'll see the old is because of the dense shade cast by the evergreens. bridge-like boathouse. deposited here in 1989. Gipsy Wort If you hear tapping sounds coming from Gorses' Wood, it's The spiky-looking Common Rush grows between the Goat The tall trees nearby, with the peculiar diamond shaped likely to be a Song Thrush using a large stone as an anvil to pattern on their bark and leaves covered in whitish down, are Willow, showing that the ground is still moist. In late break open snail shells. summer a large clump of spectacular pink rayed flowers Grey Poplars. They are hybrids between the introduced White grow here. These are Greater Knapweed, recently planted. Poplar and the native Aspen. Continue on along the path until it divides. Take the path on your right which follows the edge of the lake. The houses on Continue along the edge of the lake. Beyond the area of At the corner of the lake, the water margin in summer is thickly your left are on Evans Avenue. Goat Willow look across the grassy field towards the Hall. lined by Gipsy Wort. It has small white flowers which give off an 6 From the corner of the lake here you have an impressive You'll notice a regular series of ridges and furrows. These unpleasant smell. are the remnants of the former strip cultivation farming view over the lake to Big Wood on the skyline. The lower lake used by Allestree villagers up until about 1780. Now walk along the path next to the lake. This section of path goes is a favourite place for anglers. It's stocked with a wide along the top of the earth dam which was repaired in 1990. variety of fish, including Pike, Carp and Bream. Now go towards the seat nearby, on the lake shore.

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Geology History Introduction

10 You may see, and hear , the Mallar d Duck How to get ther e with its loud laughing quack, and at least The natur e trail star ts at the car park, of f one pair of Mute Sw ans, the lar gest British Allestree bird. You may also see the shy Gr eat Crested the A6 Duf field Road. Pedestrian access is Grebe, with its distincti ve ruff. off Main Avenue. For bus services ring the Busline on 08706 082608 . Park In late summer , you may see two dr agonfly species, the lar ge and spectacular Bro wn Hawker and the striking r ed Common Dar ter, Further information Nature patrolling in sear ch of insect pr ey. During of fice hours , contact either Derb y City Parks on 01332 715778 or the Museum Continue along and Art Galler yon01332 716659 . Trail the edg e of the lake. Outside of fice hours , contact the R anger Common Turn up the hill Darter when you reach the Services on 01332 367800 up to 9pm, Dragonfly woodland edg e. including week ends. 11 Walk along the woodland If you would lik etoknow more about the natur al histor yof edge back to wards the car the area, visit the wildlif e and g eology displa ys at Derb y Museum and Ar t Galler y, The Strand, Derb y. Or visit their park. You'll notice ther eare website at www .derby.gov.uk/museums. You can also contact more tree species her e than the Derb y Natur al Histor y Society on 01332 515859 or the inside the wood, suc has Wildlife Trust on . 01773 881188

Oak, Wild Cher ry, Scot’s Pine This leaf let was produced b y the Commer cial Ser vices and De velopment and and Holly . The tall plant w hich Cultural Services De partments of Derby City Council. has pink f lowers in summer is a Rosebay Willowherb. In late summer , you may be Please tell us if you need this lucky to see the caterpillar document in lar ge print, on audio tape , of the pink Ele phant Ha wk computer disc or in Br aille. You can Moth on the W illowherb. contact us on 01332 255093 or on This large dark, har mless, caterpillar has staring e ye textphone 01332 258427 or f ax 01332 markings on its front end. 255989. Or use the equipment at Central Library, Wardwick to con vert 12 Back at the road where you star ted the Rosebay this into v oice and lar ge print. Please nature trail, turn left to wards Willowherb contact us if you need help r eading this . Its e xterior is b uilt of document or an y part of it translating . Millstone Grit from Duf field Bank and is a good example of restrained late 18th Hindi Century English Style . From the front of the 01332 256088 Hall, you get an excellent vie woverthe Punjabi Derwent V alley. In the g arden pond, y ou'll 01332 256088 see two bronz e turtles. They used to be in Derby's Riverside Gar dens. To the rear of the Urdu Hall is a small a viary and mena gerie with a 01332 256088 variety of rabbits, domestic f owl and Peacocks. They are looked after b y the Park Supported by Rangers. From her e, follow the dri ve back to the car park to complete the natur e trail. DERBY CITY COUNCIL DERBY CITY COUNCIL

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