Ilkeston - Around A Hidden Pond
w/e 31 July 2005
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
There are two small ponds hidden between a disused railway embankment
near Straw's Bridge Nature Reserve and the Nutbrook Trail. The
easy access to the ponds is from the reserve under an old railway
bridge but we decided to approach it from the opposite side by
first walking a little way along the Nutbrook Trail. The Trail
is a nine mile footpath between Long Eaton and Shipley and this
image is close to the access from Straw's Bridge.
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As we walked along the Trail, a gap and a style in the hedge
revealed the municipal nine hole Pewit Golf Course with the Rutland
Recreation Ground beyond.
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Crossing the Nutbrook where it enters a culvert we followed a
path across some unmade ground towards the ponds. Here there
was an abundance of insect life with many butterflies fluttering
around and bees busy on the thistles. Brambles were also exhibiting
a good crop of berries although it will be a few weeks yet before
they are ready for picking.
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Our first view of one of the ponds revealed a swan on the far
side. The hidden ponds are far more secluded that the more popular
Straw's Bridge Reserve which has become known as Swan Lake because
of the numbers of swans that are to be found there. The Reserve
attracts many visitors who bring food for the birds but here
just a few yards away, the setting seem so much more natural
and peaceful.
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Perhaps one reason why it is quieter here is that a profusion
of bulrushes shield one side on this pond and the other smaller
pond is also protected by in a similar fashion.
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Passing under the railway bridge at the embankment we returned
to Straw's Bridge Nature Reserve where a number of the aforementioned
birds were doing headstands in the water! Could this be the drinker's
salutation similar to "Cheers" and "Down the hatch"
of "Bottoms Up". Or perhaps it was just a comment to
the passers by who were disturbing the peace and tranquillity!
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