Join us for an easy stroll around this wildlife rich urban oasis on Saturday 12th April 2025 in the company of experienced wildlife guide Antony Pooles of Natural Derbyshire Tours (www.naturalderbyshiretours.uk).
The rich and varied habitats of Derby’s largest cemetery means this green site is an important refuge for lots of wildlife with plenty to see year round though spring is one of the best times to take a walk here.
By early April the breeding season for our resident bird species will be in full swing and the cemetery is a great place to come and experience our spring species in full song with Blackbird, Song Thrush and the tiny but loud Wren competing for your attention whilst Great Spotted Woodpeckers drum and Nuthatch sing from the upper branches of the trees. Closer to the floor our Green Woodpeckers, one of cemeteries star species, will be heard giving their yaffling call and feeding on the Ants that will be becoming active in the warming soil. Resident Buzzards and Sparrowhawk can be spotted overhead with Red Kite an increasingly common sight and the chance of passing migrants too (Osprey was recorded over the nearby area last Spring) and our first Spring migrants – Chiffchaff, Blackcap and possibly our scrub loving Lesser Whitethroat – will have begun to arrive.
The cemetery is a riot of colour at this time of year with lemon yellow Primroses, Celandines and Violets carpeting areas of graves amongst stands of bright yellow Daffodils. While the fresh green of newly unfurling leaves is most welcome after the muted winter palette. The flowers are an attractive and important food source for emerging invertebrates with Queen Bumblebees and spring Butterflies such as Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell and Comma taking advantage of the nectar with the possibility of an early Orange-tip or two.
Start: Meet at the chapel at 8am for an 8.15am start
Duration: 1.5 – 2 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: Please use the main Cemetery car park off Nottingham Road if coming by car.
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!
Spaces are limited so this email is to Associate members only. If there are spaces still available on 23rd March then they will be more widely advertised.