A robin greeted us as we strode towards the broad path leading to the Stockley trail on a tranquil summer’s evening. Sunlight was filtering through the trees and as we moved into a field, we disturbed a pheasant that rose from the long grass with an angry squawk.
We walked past “Breaking the Mould”, an artwork that shows a seed breaking from a stone mould to represent new life emerging from industrial decline. This is one of 21 identical sculptures installed as “markers” for various regeneration sites across England and Wales.
We approached the lake of the Peter Fidler Nature Reserve, seeing only a handful of ducks and Canada geese. No sign of reed bunting or sedge warblers which are said to frequent the area all year round. Peter Fidler was born in Bolsover in 1769 and died in Manitoba, Canada. He was a surveyor, map-maker, fur trader and explorer and had a long career in the Hudson Bay Company in Canada. He married Mary (Methwewin) Mackagonne, a Cree woman and together they had 14 children.
We walked through barley fields and through healthy crops of wheat before arriving at Sutton Scarsdale Hall a Grade 1 listed Georgian ruined stately home, built between 1724 and 1729 for the 4th Earl of Scarsdale and now run by English Heritage. We parked our bottoms on a bench to eat our sandwiches and enjoyed the wonderful views of Bolsover with the castle looming above green fields and the village of Palterton on the horizon. Continuing our walk, we strolled through fields of golden, autumn barley which, according to our leader, Bob, wasn’t quite ready for harvesting. We climbed the first and last stile and through more fields to reach the cars and the end of a relaxing, quiet, 4.2 mile walk.
The next walk will be on Sunday 4th August when we meet at 4pm at the church gates. Reader – you are welcome to join us.
Evelyn Lowe