A region more renowned for its parks than its gardens. There are a small number of gardens which are likely to hold much wildlife.

• Clumber Park
• Calke Abbey
• Hit list

If you spot something that you want to tell us about, email: gardenswildlifesurvey@nationaltrust.org.uk with details of what, where and when.

Here are some of the highlights of the area:

Clumber Park

© NTPL / Jerry Harpur

The Pleasure Grounds area is contiguous with the surrounding park land but managed in a more formal, garden-like way.

Insects

• Valuable clumps of nectar-bearing shrubs attract butterflies, hoverflies, bees and other insects.

Birds

• The high volume of insects attract birds such as Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and Pied Wagtail.
• Other birds include Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Robin, Song Thrush and Long-tailed Tits.
• The more wooded section of the Pleasure Grounds plays host to Great-spotted woodpeckers, the rare Hawfinch, Nuthatch and Jay.

The Lake

• This part of the garden has a stretch of the bank of Clumber Lake as its boundary, where large numbers of wildfowl congregate.
• As well as the usual Canada geese and Coots in summer, Great-crested Grebes are resplendent in their breeding plumage along with Tufted Duck, Mallard, Moorhen and Mute Swans.

Calke Abbey

© NTPL / Mike Williams

The Abbey is bound on two sides by its meadow lawns which are rich in wild flowers and the insects they attract, and lead visitors into the more formal gardens nearby.

Flora

• The lawns have been managed by mowing and grazing for many years, resulting in a wonderful array of summer colour.
• Masses of Cowslips bloom in spring and by mid summer dozens of species are blooming side by side including Twayblade Orchids, Black Knapweed, catsears, speedwells, Lady's Bedstraw and Birds Foot Trefoil.
• The lawn is mowed just before the classical musical concerts take place in August after which sheep are moved onto the area to graze off the grass.

Butterflies

• Butterflies include small copper, common blue, gatekeeper, meadow brown, peacock, comma, small tortoiseshell and small skipper.

Hit list

Hardwick Hall, The Old Manor, Belton House (includes local bee Melecta albrifrons and local fly Cacoxenus indagator which is a parasitoid of the Red Mason bee), Gunby Hall and Canons Ashby House.