Week 6 – 16/05/26
This week took the group back up to the Winshill Water Tower, following the Brizlincote Nature Walk. The group started out across the wetlands & passed over the Trent Bridge. There was lots of activity at the boathouse with rowers diligently preparing to set off down the river. What looked to be a cormorant flew swiftly overhead whilst a pigeon soared on the breeze, gliding carelessly, this way & that.
As the group made their way up Stapenhill Road, purple flowers popped out between the trees & a shrill was heard from the geese on the river, shouting loudly, as if to be heard above the noise of the passing traffic.
Up the incline of Elms Road, the neat, terraced houses stood together, supporting each other. A robin fluttered by as if to guide the way, up further through Tower Woods. It was surprising to see how much the foliage had grown since last week & members chatted about a shared love of gardening & how therapeutic it can be. As the path narrowed further, a lady walking two westies kindly stepped aside to let them pass.
Having reached the water tower & feeling proud to have achieved an elevation gain of 369 feet, the group headed down the jitty between the houses in Brizlincote Valley. The smell of onions wafted by, the sign of a fry-up for someone, maybe?
Down the valley further, the group made their way across a small wooden bridge, keeping their feet dry from the little stream below. The path led to a hidden gate where, above the fields of crops, the splendid 1712 red brick, Brizlincote Hall, came into view, standing at the top of the hill, looking down on the green valley below.
As the path along the fields ended, the group headed down some steps into a secluded section of pretty woodland. Unfortunately, the area had been flooded by water & as they had neither a boat nor swimwear, they had to about turn & use a different route. The revised route took them through to Grafton Road & Tutbury Drive to reach the bench for the rest stop. Having been very lucky with the weather in previous weeks, this week, the clouds that had started to blanket the sky began to offer a light rain shower, just as the group stopped for their break! Undeterred by the wet weather & with more unfamiliar territory this week, members chatted about the location & tried to get their bearings.
Suitably refreshed (by drinks & rain) & rejuvenated, the group headed through gentle winding paths, hidden from the roadside, so out of sight that that nobody would know they were there. Some members chatted about an enjoyment of history & old buildings, fascinated by what their initial use was & who & what they had seen over the years.
Out of the hidden paths & reaching Woods Lane, the group were back out into more familiar surroundings. The smell of chips was in the air, floating through the open windows of the chip shop, getting ready to open for the day & making us all hungry!
With thoughts of lunch on their mind, it was a steady walk through Stapenhill Gardens where the big trees had been pollarded. It was a drastic change to the usual majestic trees seen there in previous weeks & the group expressed concern for any potential birds that may have been nesting there. Walking on, down the paths towards the Ferry Bridge, photographs were taken of the pretty flowers, the colours of different species intermingling to make an impressive display & getting closer to our destination, tall fluffy bulrushes swayed in the gentle breeze alongside a field covered with wild buttercups, creating a sea of yellow.
Back at the wetlands behind the library, having completed an impressive 4.4 mile walk, a map of the River Trent was spotted, embossed along the top of a bench. It was interesting to see various locations listed along it, including some that the group had walked by. Save
With the bells of St Modwen’s church ringing, signalling the end of another lovely walk, goodbyes were said & the group dispersed, onward to visiting family in Derby & Birmingham, to relax after a busy week with takeaway food & watching Eurovision!
