Autumn Footprints 2018 - The Launch
w/e 16 September 2018
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
Saturday September 15th 2018 was the day that the Annual Walking
Festival in Amber Valley and Erewash was launched and shortly
before 10am organizers, walk leaders, members of the Steering
Group, the respective Mayors of the two Councils and other interested
parties gathered in the Green Room at the Shipley Country Park
Visitor Centre for the launch of the sixteen day event that heralded
the subsequent 42 walks.
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There were several information boards around the room from the
various groups involved in the Festival many extolling the health
benefits of walking.
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After the introductory speeches from the Mayors and the presentation
of badges to the walk leaders, there was the obligatory gathering
outside the Visitor Centre for official photographs. The walkers
then set off for a gentle three and a half mile walk through
the Park to launch the Festival.
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I thought I had been to most places in the Park previously but
our walk leader Ben took us past Osborne's Pond, along the Nutbrook
Trail before turning off to go somewhere I had not been before.
That was Hufton's Coppice.
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The route then took us through Horse Field so named not because
there were horses in it but, as Ben explained, this was the field
where the pit ponies would spend their "vacations"
when brought up from the coal mines on the Shipley estate.
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We did however see a couple of horses on the walk including this
one going in the opposite direction as we passed Nottingham Lodge
which we had reached via the Newcastle Plantation, the Nutbrook
Trail again and Dog Kennel Lane.
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From the Lodge we skirted round Shipley Hill passing Memorial
Wood (seen here on the left) where every tree in the wood has
been planted in memory of someone. It is now becoming well established
as many of the trees with species from all around the world reach
maturity.
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As we headed towards Shipley Lane we paused at the old graveyard
which is overlooked by the Green Man carving on the remains of
a felled tree.
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After crossing Shipley Lane we followed the track below the house
confusingly called The Gardens where another felled tree was
hosting several large fungi.
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The route then briefly touched Shipley Lane at Derby Lodge before
turning off to cross "Two Trees" field (because there
are two trees in it) to Cinderhill Coppice and back to the Visitor
Centre to conclude the Launch Walk.
Route Map
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