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. Alan Wragg will once again join us and supply bat detectors for our use.
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!
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, apart from last year's walk, 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 and last year we had fantastic views of hunting Noctules and a much scarcer Leislers Bat!
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: circa 2 hours
Cost: Free – though any donations to Friends of Nottingham Road Cemetery are most welcome! Collection tins will be available.
Spaces will be limited and on a first come basis so please book early.
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. Cumberland Avenue, behind the Fire Station, usually has spaces.
Further details on meeting arrangements will be sent to those who successfully book.