Millennium Meadow, Duffield

Cowslips in the wildflower meadow

Having been cooped up all week with a bad cold, then Saturday being wet and windy, I was determined to get outside on Sunday, if only for a short while. We headed to somewhere local and new-to-us - Derbyshire Wildlife Trust's Millennium Meadow just outside Duffield.

dandelions and
forget-me-nots

We parked by the village church, and walked up a lane alongside the mainline railway towards the reserve and Eyes Meadow sports-field. It doesn't sound like a pretty approach but wildflowers were growing in the hedge bottom, and there were views across the meadows towards the Derwent. It was definitely noisy though when trains came past! It turns out we could have parked by the entrance to Millennium Meadow, but the reserve isn't huge, and walking that extra bit added more step to my Fitbit count.

Looking back to the Derwent

bluebells

Looking over Eyes Meadow sports fields

 Millennium Meadow itself is an area lying between the Derwent and Ecclesbourne rivers, with young trees, wildflowers meadow and ponds.

wild garlic

Being a nature reserve, it's necessary to stick to paths, and dogs must be kept under control, but it was a lovely quiet, peaceful place, especially walking along the banks of the Derwent.

River Ecclesbourne flowing in from the right
to join the Derwent

 In drier weather I might have tried scrambling down to the fishing spots at river level, but the previous day's rain had left the steps looking too muddy and slippery. Another time maybe.