Ilkeston - No Mow Old Park
w/e 26 May 2024
All of this week's
pictures were taken with a Nikon D3300
Erewash Borough Council is
encouraging its residents to get involved with a campaign called
"Wild About Erewash" which is all about promoting the
benefits of rewilding the borough. Those benefits are listed
as a) Improving health and wellbeing, b) Improving biodiversity
and c) Reducing our carbon footprint. There is also the Plantlife
Charity which is promoting "No Mow May" which calls
for people to allow the grass to grow during the month to enable
"wild plants get a head start on the summer". It's
fair to say these campaigns have created a lot of debate on social
media. All of the following images were taken in Chaucer Old
Park.
We regularly walk through the part of Chaucer Old Park bordering
Cantelupe Road on our way to the town centre. This part of the
park as I've said many times before is know by locals as 'Illy
'Oleys, a contraction of the hills and holes that were formed
many years ago as a result of mineral extraction.
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I don't ever remember though the grass being this long but I
suspect all the wet weather of late has encouraged its growth.
This is the view from the main path from Cantelupe Road looking
towards the Vincent Avenue exit.
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In parts the grass is so high and the branches of the trees so
low that they are almost touching.
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The play area is surrounded by a sea of green gently swaying
in the breeze.
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The main path through the park towards the town centre leaves
'Illy 'Oleys and continues through a tree-lined section which,
at this time of year, is almost like a tunnel as the branches
from each side meet overhead.
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Within the area of Chaucer Old Park and in a hollow to the right
of the main path is the first of two schools, Chaucer Infant
School.
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The main path is crossed by another which, leads down the hill
to the right to the second school, Chaucer Junior.
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Returning to the intersection of the paths, a path in the opposite
direction leads up to the old churchyard, now separated from
St Mary's Church by Chalons Way, and out of Chaucer Old Park.
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Years ago the land to the left of this path was the orchard of
Dalby House which is now the home of the Erewash Museum but this
too of course, is separated from the museum by Chalons Way. Much
of this wild area is not due to either the "Wild About Erewash"
or "No Mow May" campaigns as it has been a semi-wilderness
for years.
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There has been much discussion about the
campaigns but the results can be seen in the growth of the wild
flowers. Whether you are for or against the policies, the results
are undeniable. Me? I can see the benefits but I can also appreciate
both sides of the argument. I could be persuaded either way but
in true diplomatic mode, I'm still on the fence.
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