Bats, Hares & Owls at Locko Park 1 *FULLY BOOKED*
Description
Join me for an accessible evening stroll on my local patch.
We’ll start the evening tracking down the local bird species that call this area home and as the evening draws on we’ll watch the antics of the local Brown Hares as well as looking out for Hobby which hunt in the area to well after sunset. As the sun goes down we’ll seek out the three resident species of Owl (Barn Owl, Little Owl & Tawny Owl), before, detector in hand, we head back to the lake and turn our attention to finding the different species of bat that use the area (I have recorded Noctule, Common & Soprano Pipistrelles, Brown Long Eared and Daubenton's here).
Need To Know
This walk is on well paved tracks throughout and, with just one gentle hill to negotiate, will suit those with limited mobility. There are no café or toilet facilities on site. Please dress appropriately for the weather - long sleeves and trousers are recommended as we will be standing by water at night which might mean biting insects. I will have a couple of bat detectors to use but please bring your own if you have one.
Price:£10
Date:27/05/2026
Time:8:30 pm
Duration:2 hours
Best of the White Peak 2
Description
One of our most popular walks with this route taking in the key habitats of the dales of the White Peak area including classic limestone farmland, a craggy dry dale, vulnerable and declining Ash woodland, the stunning crystal clear waters of the River Dove and lots of very special wildlife!
Regularly seen species include Swift, Swallow, Skylark, Curlew, Wheatear, Redstart, Garden Warbler, Linnet, Raven, Red Kite, Buzzard, Peregrine, Spotted Flycatcher, Dipper, Mandarin, Grey Wagtail, Brown Hare, Roe Deer, Dingy Skipper, Common Blue and Early Purple Orchid. Previous walks have also encountered Wall Brown, Stoat and Barn Owl too!
A complete description of this walk can be found on our full day walk page.
Need To Know
Some ascent & descent. Some paths can be wet and muddy. A reasonable level of fitness is required though we will be taking our time and stopping often. Toilet facilities will be available at the start and end of the walk as well as the opportunity to get a hot drink or refreshments at the end.
Price:£20
Date:31/05/2026
Time:6:00 am
Duration:5 hours
Availability:3 places remaining
Nightjars Watching Evening 1
Description
Join me for an exciting evening adventure as we go looking for one of the UK’s most fascinating bird species – the Nightjar! This cryptically coloured migrant returns to the UK in May and spends its days sat perfectly camouflaged on the floor of its heathland or clear-fell home before coming alive after sunset where its strange mechanical churring song, delivered from a perch, is often clearly audible. Previous walks have seen us get amazing views of this nocturnal specialist as they hunted for their favourite moth prey and patrolled their territory (their flight often betrayed by their calls and the gleaming white wing patches of the males). With multiple birds flying around us and landing nearby at times these were truly memorable encounters! Its not just Nightjars we’ll be hoping to see as we’ll look for other nocturnal species such as roding (displaying) Woodcock, owls and bats whilst we wait. Previous walks also enjoyed good views of Goshawk, Hobby, Curlew, Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Swift and Roe Deer too!
Need To Know
There are no café or toilet facilities on site. Please dress appropriately for the weather - long sleeves, trousers and a head covering are recommended as we will be standing in clear-fell/forest at night which might mean biting insects.
Price:£10
Date:06/06/2026
Time:9:00 pm
Duration:1.5 hours
Availability:2 places remaining
Nightjars Watching Evening 2 *FULLY BOOKED*
Description
Join me for an exciting evening adventure as we go looking for one of the UK’s most fascinating bird species – the Nightjar! This cryptically coloured migrant returns to the UK in May and spends its days sat perfectly camouflaged on the floor of its heathland or clear-fell home before coming alive after sunset where its strange mechanical churring song, delivered from a perch, is often clearly audible. Previous walks have seen us get amazing views of this nocturnal specialist as they hunted for their favourite moth prey and patrolled their territory (their flight often betrayed by their calls and the gleaming white wing patches of the males). With multiple birds flying around us and landing nearby at times these were truly memorable encounters! Its not just Nightjars we’ll be hoping to see as we’ll look for other nocturnal species such as roding (displaying) Woodcock, owls and bats whilst we wait. Previous walks also enjoyed good views of Goshawk, Hobby, Curlew, Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Swift and Roe Deer too!
Need To Know
There are no café or toilet facilities on site. Please dress appropriately for the weather - long sleeves, trousers and a head covering are recommended as we will be standing in clear-fell/forest at night which might mean biting insects.
Price:£10
Date:17/06/2026
Time:9:00 pm
Duration:1.5 hours
Bats on the Cromford canal
Description
Join me for an easy amble along the Cromford canal as we look for the various bat species that call this famous old waterway home!
Before dark we'll make a quick visit to the nearby River Derwent where we will hope to catch the local Dipper pair and possibly spot a Kingfisher or Grey Wagtail. We'll then head down the canal hoping to hear a 'plop' and possibly catch a glimpse of one of the Water Voles that can be found here before, as darkness falls, we'll turn on our bat detectors and enjoy the sight and sound of these wonderful winged mammals feeding on the canals plentiful insect life. Our walk here last year saw us get great views of Noctule, Daubenton's & Pipistrelle,
Need To Know
This walk is mostly on well paved paths throughout and should suit those with limited mobility. Please dress appropriately for the weather - long sleeves and trousers are recommended as we will be standing by water at night which might mean biting insects. I will have a couple of bat detectors to use but please bring your own if you have one.
Price:£10
Date:20/06/2026
Time:8:30 pm
Duration:2 hours
Availability:7 places remaining
Butterflies & Orchids at Darley & Nutwood LNR (Derby)
Description
Darley & Nutwood LNR is a hidden gem on the outskirts of Derby. We'll start our walk in historic Darley Abbey village where we will head up the River Derwent hoping to spot the likes of Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and Goosander as well as looking for the Swifts & House Martins that nest in some of the old mill buildings. Reaching Darley & Nutwood LNR we will spend time looking for some of the beautiful orchid species that can be found here such as Pyramidal Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid, Bee Orchid & Marsh Orchid. Butterflies can include Common Blue, Small Copper, Painted Lady, Gatekeeper and plenty of other grassland species whilst the scrubby areas are excellent for warblers with Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler & Blackcap all likely with great views of Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Sand Martin & a variety of finches likely
Need To Know
There are no toilet & café facilities on this route. The paths at Darley & Nutwood can be uneven and possibly muddy (depending on conditions). Long sleeves & long trousers are recommended as we will be spending a lot of time in grassland that might be home to biting insects
Price:£15
Date:21/06/2026
Time:7:00 am
Duration:2.5
Availability:5 places remaining
Nightjar Watching Evening 3
Description
Join me for an exciting evening adventure as we go looking for one of the UK’s most fascinating bird species – the Nightjar! This cryptically coloured migrant returns to the UK in May and spends its days sat perfectly camouflaged on the floor of its heathland or clear-fell home before coming alive after sunset where its strange mechanical churring song, delivered from a perch, is often clearly audible. Previous walks have seen us get amazing views of this nocturnal specialist as they hunted for their favourite moth prey and patrolled their territory (their flight often betrayed by their calls and the gleaming white wing patches of the males). With multiple birds flying around us and landing nearby at times these were truly memorable encounters! Its not just Nightjars we’ll be hoping to see as we’ll look for other nocturnal species such as roding (displaying) Woodcock, owls and bats whilst we wait. Previous walks also enjoyed good views of Goshawk, Hobby, Curlew, Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Swift and Roe Deer too!
Need To Know
There are no café or toilet facilities on site. Please dress appropriately for the weather - long sleeves, trousers and a head covering are recommended as we will be standing in clear-fell/forest at night which might mean biting insects.
Price:£10
Date:11/07/2026
Time:9:00 pm
Duration:1.5
Availability:5 places remaining
Summer Butterfly & Bird Walk @ High Leas Farm (Riber)
Description
Come and join for a summer wander around our wildflower rich meadows as we look for many butterflies that call the farm home.
Our guided butterfly walks over the last few years have seen us enjoy brilliant views of several stunning species including Dark-Green Fritillary, Common Blue, Wall Brown, Small & Large Skippers, migrant Painted Ladies and good numbers of Small Copper amongst lots of commoner butterflies such as Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Red Admiral and Ringlet.
Whilst keeping our eyes open for butterflies we will also be looking for the fantastic range of bird life that use the farm. Both our resident and migrant species will be coming to the end of their breeding seasons with the latter, including our stunning Redstarts and Flycatchers, feeding young and fattening up themselves ready for the southward migration in early Autumn. Young raptors will be on the wing by now too, their noisy food begging betraying the presence in the woods and hedgerows and with a bit of luck we may see four or five species during our walk.
We’ll be walking at the fabulous High Leas Farm, Riber – this exciting regenerative farming hub with its fantastic mix of woodland, grassland, hedgerows and scrub is the perfect place to enjoy a great variety of butterfly and bird life.
See 'Need To Know' for how to book
Need To Know
Please bring any drinks or snacks you think you may need. Dress for the weather and a day outdoors and wear sensible shoes suitable for uneven terrain. Please bring binoculars if you have them.
Tickets are available online via the Heartwood SFC website via the following link that you can cut and paste into your browser. Alternatively click the 'Join this Walk' button, fill out the form and I will send the link to you directly:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/heartwood/2107791
Price:£10
Date:12/07/2026
Time:9:15 am
Duration:3 hours
Availability:3 places remaining
Bats, Hares & Owls at Locko Park 2
Description
Join me for an accessible evening stroll on my local patch.
We’ll start the evening tracking down the local bird species that call this area home and as the evening draws on we’ll watch the antics of the local Brown Hares as well as looking out for Hobby which hunt in the area to well after sunset. As the sun goes down we’ll seek out the three resident species of Owl (Barn Owl, Little Owl & Tawny Owl), before, detector in hand, we head back to the lake and turn our attention to finding the different species of bat that use the area (I have recorded Noctule, Common & Soprano Pipistrelles, Brown Long Eared and Daubenton's here).
Need To Know
his walk is on well paved tracks throughout and, with just one gentle hill to negotiate, will suit those with limited mobility. There are no cafe or toilet facilities on site. Please dress appropriately for the weather - long sleeves and trousers are recommended as we will be standing by water at night which might mean biting insects. I will have a couple of bat detectors to use but please bring your own if you have one.
Price:£10
Date:14/07/2026
Time:8:30 pm
Duration:2 hours
Availability:5 places remaining
Butterflies & Wildflowers @ Rose End Meadows (Cromford) *FULLY BOOKED*
Description
Rose End Meadows in Cromford is a very special place - a series of small traditionally managed meadows that have never been treated with fertilisers or pesticides that are now a wonderfully rich nature reserve that includes a network of scrub, grassland and ponds separated by mature hedgerows and lichen clad dry stone walls.
Rose End Meadows is home to several orchid species with Pyramidal, Common Spotted, Common Twayblade and Bee Orchid all recorded regularly and its wildflower rich grasslands are a haven for insects including many species of butterfly which we will enjoy spotting on our walk with Common Blue, Painted Lady, Wall Brown and even Silver Washed Fritillary all seen on previous outings.
The birds can be pretty good too with both Swift and Swallow feeding overhead while a variety of warblers such as Willow Warbler & Garden Warbler breed along with a good chance of seeing Spotted Flycatcher and possibly even Redstart. Peregrine breed nearby and can often be seen moving over,
Need To Know
There are no toilet & café facilities on this route. The paths at Rose End Meadows can be uneven and possibly muddy (depending on conditions). Long sleeves & long trousers are recommended as we will be spending a lot of time in grassland that might be home to biting insects
Price:£15
Date:19/07/2026
Time:7:30 am
Duration:2.5 - 3 hours

