Calke Park wildlife walk
As well as a grand Baroque mansion with a large natural history collection, Calke has secret walled gardens and a parkland, much of which is a National Nature Reserve.
A tranquil walk with lots of interest
The park is a rich and varied landscape of grassland, ponds and wood pasture – one of the rarest habitats in Europe. You’ll also find majestic veteran trees and some great bug-watching sites. There are no public roads at Calke so it's perfect for a peaceful walk.
Map
Start:
Calke Abbey main overflow car park, grid ref: SK367226
1
Begin at the northern edge of the main car park with your back to the Ticket Office. Use the gravel path then down the steps to the pond. Look for dragonflies in the summer. Turn right and follow the deer fencing to the top of the hill, until it meets the old park boundary wall.
Red deer
Red deer inhabit the estate. See males locking horns, calling females and scent-marking during the autumn rut.
2
Turn left away from the deer fence and follow the path near the wall through the parkland and then along through the Serpentine Wood. This is a good place to see bluebells in spring. Also look for signs of badgers (paths, tracks and diggings).
Wildlife
Spot yellow archangel and bluebells in the woodlands, and self-heal and sheep's sorrel in the grasslands. Birds of prey such as hobby, buzzard and red kite may be seen, as well as woodland birds such as woodpeckers, tree creepers, nuthatch, starling and tits. Over half of the UK's 16 bat species have been recorded here, and the rough grassland is home to voles, shrews, wood mice, weasels and stoats. Badgers make their homes in the woods along with over 350 types of beetles which thrive on the dead wood. Watch out for the wasp beetle that mimics a wasp in order to avoid being preyed upon.
3
Go through the kissing gate and follow the woodland path, which bears round to the left.
4
Come out of the wood into the Fisherman's car park. To see the oldest tree in the park, the 'Old Man of Calke', walk a short way beyond the car park through a wooden kissing gate on the left. The tree stands 55yd (50m) on the left and is protected by railings. Return to the car park.
Ancient trees
Veteran trees sometimes have hollow trunks which can be seen when the main truck has broken and/or opened. Trees become hollow through a natural process of decay, not because they're dying, but to increase their stability. Also, notice the piles of dead wood around the estate that provide an important habitat for insects. The area around the trees is grazed and this benefits wildlife including many grassland flowers and fungi. The ancient trees support a huge diversity of insects and rare fungi such as the oak polypore.
5
Follow the stepped path down from the car park to Betty's Pond and go between the two ponds, then ascend the steps over the stile. A number of Calke's ancient trees (some over 400 years old) can be seen around Betty's Pond.
Damselflies
This azure damselfly is one of many that can be seen around the ponds at Calke. Others include the common blue and blue-tailed damselfly, and brown hawker dragonfly.
6
Follow the narrow stoned then stepped path down from the car park to Betty's Pond. Bear left and go between the two ponds. Next ascend the steps after a gate. A number of Calke's ancient trees (some more than 800 years old) can be seen on the left.
Damselflies
The azure damselfly is one of many that can be seen around the ponds at Calke. Others include the common blue and blue-tailed damselfly, and brown hawker dragonfly.
End:
Calke Abbey main overflow car park, grid ref: SK367226
