• Telephone: 07989 218860
  • Email: info@naturalderbyshiretours.uk

Evening Bat & Wildlife Walk at Nottingham Road Cemetery – Saturday 13th July 2024 (Free)

Evening Bat & Wildlife Walk at Nottingham Road Cemetery – Saturday 13th July 2024 (Free)

Join us for a unique opportunity to take an easy stroll around this wildlife rich urban oasis after dark in the company of experienced wildlife guide Antony Pooles of Natural Derbyshire Tours.

The rich and varied habitats of Derby’s largest cemetery mean this green site is an important refuge for lots of wildlife with plenty to see year round though it is relatively unexplored and untouched after dark making this chance to spend time here after the gates have closed really special!

Tawny Owls have been recorded at the cemetery – will we be lucky enough to see one?.

We’ll start our walk before sunset when we hope that many of our daytime wild birds such as Song Thrush,  Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Treecreeper and Nuthatch will offer confiding views in the quiet of the evening. We’ll be looking out for our Green Woodpeckers, one of cemeteries star species, which might be seen feeding on the ground hopefully with some newly fledged juveniles in tow! Resident Buzzards and Sparrowhawk often show well towards dusk and Swifts congregate overhead feeding up on the bountiful insects as the light fades.
As darkness falls we’ll be in unfamiliar territory as no one has really surveyed or watched the cemetery after hours – will we hear a Tawny Owl? Or maybe catch sight of a Fox on the prowl? We’ll be armed with our Bat detectors too and are excited to see which species are hunting the insect rich grassland and patrolling the tree lined avenues. Pipistrelles will be about but can we locate any Noctules or Brown Long Eared Bats?
This is a fabulous opportunity to explore this wonderful site at night, adding to understanding and knowledge of its biodiversity and we expect the walk to book up quickly.
Start: Meet at the chapel at 20.15 for a 20.30 start
Duration: c2 hours
Cost: Free – though any donations to Friends of Nottingham Road Cemetery are most welcome!
How to book – please register your interest by email to info@naturalderbyshiretours.uk
Parking: The cemetery car parks will not be available so please use public transport if possible or park sensibly on nearby streets being careful not to block access or disturb residents.
Please dress appropriately for the weather. Antony will have a spotting scope for all to share and a couple of pairs of binoculars to borrow but please bring your own if you have them. If you own or have access to a bat detector please bring it along too! Long trousers, a hat or hooded top and insect repellent are recommended as there can be biting insects.

 


Share this

What Our Visitors Say ...

"I had a half-day walk with Antony, hoping to see a Ring Ouzel, and to see Waders in their nesting habitat. I achieved both of these, and saw several other good birds as well, including an owl and several Pied Flycatchers (another first for me). Anthony was not only very knowledgeable but also good company, and I would recommend his walks for anyone who enjoys wildlife but would benefit from some local expertise."
Tim Bucknall - Dorset.
"Antony's guided tour began in Hartington, and included an upland area, Biggin Dale and Wolfscote Dale. This gave us experience of a great variety of habitats, and a chance to see lots of birds, including ravens, rooks, jackdaws, a peregrine falcon, wheatears and stonechats, dippers and wagtails and chiffchaffs. The weather was variable, but Antony made the whole tour really entertaining and informative. He is extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of nature, and birds in particular. Just as important, he is a very friendly and approachable guide, always willing to engage in discussion on any aspect of the area. We felt that, in addition to having a most interesting walk, we came away with really useful advice about how to observe birds on our future walks. The weather improved as we walked along the River Dove, and we were treated to some very special moments of bird observation, aided by Antony's telescope and tripod. We would highly recommend Antony to anyone keen to learn more about local wildlife as part of a most enjoyable walk in Derbyshire."
D & C Longson - Derbyshire.
"My mum and I had a fantastic bespoke walk with Antony around the Brassington area and Rose End Meadows in Cromford. Beautiful scenery, glorious sunshine and a wealth of interesting facts about the flowers, birds, insects and butterflies we met along the way. We had a truly magical time watching a Silver-washed Fritillary dancing and gliding around right in front of us for fifteen minutes. The walk was a birthday present for my mum and Antony took the time to find out what her specific interests and level of knowledge were in advance so that he could plan the route accordingly. He even sent us more information afterwards to confirm a couple of butterfly and dragonfly IDs. Antony really knows his stuff and his enthusiasm is infectious. He also has an unbelievable eye and ear for tiny creatures, plants and sounds that would have passed me by completely. A relaxing, hugely informative and very enjoyable day all round. Many thanks again, Antony!"
L Breakwell - Nottingham.
"Thank you ever so much for the Dawn Chorus experience last Saturday. Even though the weather was terrible we really enjoyed it. We all said would do it again regardless of the weather."
J Tagg - Derbyshire.
"Thoroughly enjoyed two fantastic nature walks with Antony in September 2020. Loved our walk on the Eastern Moors spotting moorland birds and lots and lots of red deer, just starting their rut. Our second walk was an early morning exploration of the very different habitat of the Derwent river and Cromford Canal. Spent ages watching a beautiful pair of dippers dabbling in the river, a streaking Kingfisher and tons of little Grebe diving in the clear water. Antony was an absolutely brilliant guide. He has amazing knowledge about every single species of bird, mammal and lots of plants across the Peak District and knows exactly where to find them. He has such a friendly and welcoming manner that you never feel you're not 'expert' enough and he patiently answers every question. I would thoroughly recommend a nature walk with Antony to get to know the Peak District through the eyes of a wildlife fan! Very best wishes and see you next spring!"
N Marshall - London.
"Antony was not only very knowledgeable about swifts but also provided valuable information to participants on the walks regarding support for the various swift habitats in their neighbourhood. Highly recommended."
D Howson - Derby.
"A great evening watching swifts, and learning about other local wildlife. The leader was very friendly and knowledgeable. He gave us lots of interesting information about swifts, and how we could help with their conservation. There was plenty of time to ask questions, and the walk was taken at a leisurely pace to enable everyone to keep up and get involved. A lovely evening stroll that everyone seemed to enjoy!"
H Naylor - Derbyshire.

Walking Tours In Derbyshire

  • Walking based wildlife tours in Derbyshire for up to 4 people (walks for larger groups can be arranged).
  • Walks to suit all abilities/fitness’s.
  • Full day, shorter and bespoke walks available.
  • Expert local guide.
  • Prices include use of optics and identification books/charts, a delicious packed lunch (full day walks only) and hot drinks.
  • Transport for up to 4 people available to and from accommodation.
  • 5% of each booking will be donated to the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.

Contact Us

Contact Us

Telephone:
07989 218860

Email:
info@naturalderbyshiretours.uk

natural derbyshire tours


Copyright © 2024 Natural Derbyshire Tours | HTML Sitemap | Privacy Policy
Web design, Web hosting & SEO by Website Design Derby Ltd

Skip to content