Bramcote Hills Park - Crow Hill & Silver Birches
w/e 11 July 2021
All of this week's pictures were taken with a Kodak DX6490
Most local people will be aware of the sandstone
outcrop at Bramcote known as the Hemlock Stone but less than
a mile away is another ancient stone hidden away in Bramcote
Hills Park.
We entered the park via the main entrance to the car park before
ten o'clock one morning but even then there were many vehicles
parked and dog walkers were also out in force. There was still
plenty of open space in the park though and social distancing
was not a problem at all.
|
After parking the car we returned to the main entrance and took
the path that runs parallel with the road for about half a mile
through the trees. A grassy bank on the right shields walkers
from the majority of the traffic noise.
|
On the left there are views through the trees to the open parkland
beyond. There are also a number of places where equipment has
been positioned for the park's "Trim Trail" and some
park benches for the less energetic.
|
After about half a mile there is another entrance to the park,
this one for pedestrians, near the cricket ground.
|
Just beyond the entrance our first objective came into view.
This is Crow Hill and a short scramble up the hill took us into
the trees at the top to search for the stone.
|
Once in the trees, the stone didn't take much searching at all
as it was only a few steps in. It is actually a Standing Stone
or Menhir and is situated among overgrown earthworks at an elevation
of 76m. Although we didn't actually make them out, apparently
there are markings on the stone that are thought to show the
date 1777.
|
Just outside the tree line a strategically placed bench is a
good vantage point to sit for a few minutes to survey the park.
This view is deceptive as it doesn't really capture the downward
slope but we made the descent and headed off to the right. Our
approach to Crow Hill had been from the left in this view.
|
Still heading to the right we walked around the cricket ground
and made our way to the foot of the hills that give Bramcote
Hills its name.
|
Instead of following the path up through the trees on the slope
we left it and walked by the wall at the foot of the slope. This
was to enable us to reach the second objective of the walk.
|
  That second
objective was to see a group of 2m socially distanced silver
birch trees that have recently been planted. The nearby interpretation
board says that 30 trees are a variety with vivid white stems
which will contrast with bluebells that have also been planted
as a reminder of the NHS and the part it played in the fight
against the coronavirus pandemic, blue and white being the NHS
colours.
From here we made our way back to the car park but not before
a short diversion into the Walled Garden for a view across Coventry
Lane to the more famous Hemlock Stone (highlighted above).
|
