Bramcote - Bramcote Hills Park at Crocus Time
w/e 02 March 2014
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
With no particular destination in mind we set off
vaguely in the direction of Nottingham armed with the camera
with a view of seeing if the daffodils had started to bloom anywhere.
None were apparent in the usual places as we passed through Trowell
although crocuses were showing up at intervals by the roadside.
On a whim I turned into Bramcote Hills Park even though it's
a place we've visited several times previously. An information
board near the entrance details several points of interest within
the park.
On this extract from the board I've superimposed a pink line
showing the approximate route we followed for a short walk during
which I captured all of the following images. We left the car
park (P) and walked through the Walled Garden (I), past the Ice
House (J) into the wooded Nature Reserve (K) before descending
to the Halls House (D) to cross the Parkland Area (A) before
heading back to the car park. On the way there were also distant
views of the Hemlock Stone (H) and Cookies Pond (G).
This view taken as we left the Walled Garden also shows the Hemlock
Stone on the far side of Coventry Lane and the Holocaust Memorial
in the garden but still no daffodils nor any crocuses either.
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There were however a swathe of snowdrops on the bank leading
up to the Ice House, the entrance to which can seen on the left.
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We climbed up into the Nature Reserve and followed various paths
up and down through the trees mostly devoid of leaves at this
time of year.
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As we dropped down towards the parkland we were watched by one
of the residents who was quite content to pose for this image.
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We emerged from the trees near the footprint of the Hills House
which stood here from 1805 to 1966 when it was demolished, the
footprint being restored in 2002. A panel at the site records
the history of the house including old photos of the Georgian
building. A temporary visitor trotted into view just as I took
this photo.
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Making our way across the park towards Ilkeston Road we headed
for a fenced area where a fallen beech tree has been carved to
show various woodland creatures. The 200 year old tree still
standing at the time was fenced in 2007 with sufficient space
around it to protect park users should it fall which it did exactly
where anticipated in 2012.
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This view of the fallen tree taken from near the Ilkeston Road
side of the park also shows the fenced area which has been planted
with woodland bulbs, wild flowers and new tree seedlings. The
old tree will be allowed to decay to provide a natural habitat
for wildlife.
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Across Ilkeston Road is Cookies Pond which it is believed to
have once been a carp pond for the Hills House. Now it is an
urban refuge for waterfowl and aquatic wildlife and is a picture
in spring surrounded by daffodils .... but "Where are the
flowers if this is the park at crocus time?" I hear you
ask.
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Well the crocuses are to be found on the bank that runs along
the edge of the park.
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And situated as they are along the bank, the flowers offer a
welcome splash of colour to drivers as they head along Ilkeston
Road to and from the A52 between Nottingham and Derby. So that's
Bramcote Hills Park at crocus time and even though these images
were captured as we approach St David's Day, the Welsh national
flower is still loathe to put in an appearance. Maybe by the
time St Patrick's Day comes around on the 17th hopefully we'll
be seeing daffodils in abundance too.
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