Walk key • SurfacegradedB=Quitesmooth,withsomeunevenground

• SlopeGentle=uptoa1in20gradient• Access=notsuitableforwheelchairandpushchairs.There

isacyclepathtothetopofthenaturereserve,whichprovideseasyaccessandexcellentviews.

• FamilywalkEstimated time 1km(0.62miles),30minutesatasteadypaceFacilities Therearenofacilitiesonthereserve,thenearesttoiletsareat

ASDA.How to get there BybusfromDerbyCityCentre,TrentBartonSpondonFlyer

ByroadSatNav:DE217AB,parkonWestRoad,ParkRoadorOregonWay.

ImproveyourphysicalandmentalhealthwiththisgentlewalkaroundWestParkMeadows.ThenaturereserveformsamajorpartoftheGreenWedgeintoDerbyCitybetweenSpondonandChaddesden.Nature to be seen include (Wildlifetobeseenwilldependingonseasonsandweather)

Birds:Yellowhammer,skylark,bluetits,robins,wrens.Treesandflowers:Ash,sycamore,oak,hawthorn,elder,redcampion,knapweed,selfheal,lordsandladies,woodavensandlessercelandine.

Animals:Peacockbutterflies,broadbodiedchaserdragonflies,frogs,squirrels.

Let us know the wildlife you see on your walk FollowusonTwitter@DerbyCC-use#derbywalkoremailparks@derby.gov.uk

Wewillupdateourwebsitewithnatureseenateachpark.Visitwww.derby.gov.uk/parks

Nature Walk for West Park Meadows Nature Reserve

8

12

6

3

4

8

5

7

Mapnottoscale

Woodedarea

Pond

Route

Cyclepath

ToWestRoad

1. StartthewalkonWestRoad.Thereareanumberofpostsalongtheroutewhichcorrespondwiththenumbersonthemapabove.Whenyouenterintothereserveatpoint1,youwillseeopenfarlandtotheright.Listenhereforbirds,liketheyellowhammerandskylark.

2. Walkalongthetarmacfootpath.Thegrasslandtotheleftisnowmanagedasawildlifemeadowallowinginterestingspeciessuchasknapweed,yorkshirefog,selfhealandbushvetchtoflourish.Lookattheunevensurfacewhichshowstheremnantsoftheoldridgeandfurrowfarmingsystem,datingbacktoMedievaltimes.

3. Asyoucontinuealongthetarmacpathyouwillreachahedgerow.Beyonditbearslightlytotheleft,acrossopengrassland.Avoidtracksthroughdensebushes.Hereareoak,sycamore,englishelmandwychelm.Alsoseebusheslikehawthorn,blackthorn,brambleandrose.Thesearehometobirds,mammalsandinsects.

Walk route

ToWestRoad

4. Continueon,bearingleftthroughbushes,untilyoureachanotheropenareaofgrassland.Thishasbentgrass,spearthistleandmeadowbuttercup.

5. Continueonuntilyoureachabeltoflargetrees.Justbeforeenteringthiswoodland,lookacrosstotheright.HereonthesouthernedgeofthereserveseethefantasticviewoftheRiverDerwentValley.

6. Followthepathintothewood,keepingtoyourright.ThisstripofwoodlandcontainsmanylargeoaktreesandafewAshandSycamore.Oaksprovidefoodandsheltertomanybirdsandinsects.Youmayseesquirrelsandbluetitsinthetrees.Looktothegroundandseebrambleandivy.Keepyoureyeoutforpinkcampion.

7. Continueontothepond,whichhasbeenheresinceMedievaltimesandwasdredgedandrestoredin1995.Approachitquietlyandslowly,lookingoutfor

wildlifesuchasfrogs,andinthesummeryoumayseedragonflies.Becarefulnearthewater.

Produced in Partnership with Derbyshire Mind - Enjoying Derby and Derby City Council

* Also available is a West Park Meadows history leaflet, available to download at www.derby.gov.uk/parks

8. Walkaroundthepond,thenturnleftalongtheEasternedgeofthereserve,closetotheschoolplayingfieldsandtowardsthewoodlandinthecentre.Thiswoodhasagoodmixoftrees,ahealthyshrubandgroundcover.Itprovidesavarietyofhabitatsforbirdssuchasbluetits,robinsandwrens.Shrublayerincludeshawthornandelderandgroundfloraincludesbramble,lordsandladies,woodavensandlessercelandine.

Youwillnowcometoapath,continuealongherepassingbetweenwoodlandandhedgerow.Ourwalkcompletesbackatwheretheroutestarted,onWestRoad. Don’t forget to tell us about the wildlife you have seen on your walk, by following us on Twitter @DerbyCC - use #derbywalk or email: parks@derby.gov.uk

For information about Derby’s Local Nature Reserves please call Derby Parks on 01332 293111, Minicom 01332 640666, email parks@derby.gov.uk or visit www.derby.gov.uk/parks