This time of year sees some of nature's best moments and when it comes to a show, Hardwick's park is a great theatre for all kinds of wildlife.
Bursting buds
Splashes of yellow from daffodils, catkins on trees and buds bursting into life brighten the view. As the season progesses, wild garlic or ransoms, line the paths to Lady Spencer's Walk. You'll smell it before you see it. During May, our scone of the month will be cheese and wild garlic, using the plants grown at Hardwick, discover this delicious seasonal treat.
Wild garlic
National Trust Images/Andrew Butler
Wild garlic Lambs and their mums can be spotted resting across the Park at Hardwick in the spring
National Trust / Sarah Mann Photography
Lambs and their mums can be spotted resting across the Park at Hardwick in the spring
Bouncing bairns
Across the park you might spot some of the newly born lambs from our herd of sheep, while down at the ponds there'll be ducklings out for a swim with mum. Ask at visitor reception for a walking map to the ponds to see the variety of wildlife.
Down at the ponds you might see one of the mallard families out for a pootle
National Trust / Jo Rawson
Down at the ponds you might see one of the mallard families out for a pootle
Bird life
In Lady Spencer's Wood, and other parts of woodland, amongst the birds you might spot are great tit, blue tit, long tailed tit, robin, wren, blackbird, nuthatch and treecreeper. An extra special treat might be the sighting of a goldcrest.
On the ponds we have many visitors of the feathered kind, including mute swan, mallard, Canada goose, coot, moorhen, goosander, tufted duck, and black-headed gulls. We also get kingfishers, so if you're very quiet and very lucky you might catch a glimpse of one of these colourful chaps.
Visitors to the ponds at Hardwick include grebes
National Trust / Jo Rawson
Visitors to the ponds at Hardwick include grebes
Wild play
Pick up a Welly Wildlife Trail to take out with you into the park and see who or what you can find.
If the kids need to burn off some steam, you can always opt for the natural play. Follow Lady Spencer’s Walk to discover see-saws, stepping stones amongst other things.
Children can run off their energy on the play trail
NT Hardwick
Children can run off their energy on the play trail