WALKING GROUP
After a pleasant journey to Teversal, nine of us piled out of the cars and ate our sandwiches at the picnic tables outside the Visitor Centre, at Brierley Forest Park. We walked towards the coal garden- a display of mock mine shaft wheels and coal wagons painted in bright colours- then entered a wood, noticing and naming various varieties of wild flower. Our meander through a farm yard was of interest as it housed many items of rusting machinery, discarded tyres and towering haystacks covered with either tarpaulins or black plastic sheeting. A big, old, shaggy dog, possibly an Alsatian, was tethered to a wall and fast asleep. As we moved into the first field, we were met by a team* of quacking ducks and over to our left, in a nearby field, a woman with a loud speaker was organising the riders at a gymkhana.
After crossing a footbridge over a muddy-looking stream, walking through several fields and negotiating various kissing gates, we arrived at Brierley Water, where we sat on benches in the sunshine and surveyed the peaceful lake. Some of our party threw bread for the coots and their chicks and noticed two nests in the reeds nearby.
We left this area reluctantly, making our way towards the next Visitor Centre and passing under an interesting, sculptured metal arch
depicting insects, birds and animals. Our route led us past the golf course with views of Hardwick Hall in the distance, before directing us through a couple of fields and back through the farmyard – this time the dog was awake and sounded the alarm.
A very easy walk, in warm, dry weather – and no muddy boots to clean afterwards was a bonus.
* There are several collective nouns for duck depending on whether the duck is in the air, (a safe, a skein, a sore, a string) on water (a paddling, a raft) on land (a flush). Taken from the internet.
Evelyn Lowe