Bellington Wood

Wood, Forest in Derbyshire South Derbyshire

England

Bellington Wood

Dark clouds over Moorland House Not generating much energy on the panels at the moment. — Dark clouds over Moorland House Credit: Christine Johnstone

Bellington Wood is a picturesque forest located in the heart of Derbyshire, England. Covering an area of approximately 100 acres, this woodland is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and diverse range of flora and fauna.

The woodland is predominantly made up of mature broadleaf trees, including oak, beech, and ash, which create a dense canopy and provide a habitat for a variety of wildlife species. Visitors to Bellington Wood can expect to encounter a plethora of birds, such as woodpeckers, owls, and thrushes, as well as small mammals like foxes, badgers, and squirrels.

A network of well-maintained trails and footpaths wind their way through the forest, allowing visitors to explore the wood at their own pace. These paths provide an opportunity for nature enthusiasts to observe the woodland's flora up close, with wildflowers such as bluebells and primroses dotting the forest floor during the spring months.

Bellington Wood also offers a range of recreational activities for visitors to enjoy. With designated picnic areas and benches scattered throughout the forest, it is an ideal spot for a family day out or a peaceful picnic surrounded by nature.

The woodland is open to the public throughout the year, and there is no entry fee. However, visitors are encouraged to respect the natural environment and follow any signage or guidelines provided to ensure the conservation and preservation of this beautiful woodland for future generations.

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Bellington Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 52.880398/-1.3730237 or Grid Reference SK4231. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Dark clouds over Moorland House

Not generating much energy on the panels at the moment.

Christine Johnstone

Hicken's Bridge

The A50 bridge over the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Andrew Abbott

The Trent and Mersey Canal

Near Shardlow

Andrew Abbott

Bridge 3A Trent & Mersey Canal (1997)

This seems to be an expensive looking bridge for what appears to be just a farm track running across it. The date is probably the big clue as this is the time that the nearby A50 was finished. Presumably therefore this was needed to restore access to the farm visible behind destroyed by the new road.

David Lally

The Trent & Mersey Canal

Hicken's Bridge carrying the A50 visible in the distance.

David Lally

Canal Milepost

Shardlow 1 Mile Preston Brook 91 Miles. Grade II listed List Entry Number:1088357 Link

Originally at SK429 298. See also SK4329 : A canal milepost SK4329 : Shardlow 1 mile.

David Lally

Stream at Ambaston

This sluggish stream drains the lake at Elvaston Castle into the River Derwent.

Stephen McKay

Footpath to Ambaston

The markers on these posts appear to point in slightly different directions but there is only one path. The one on the right identifies the route as the Derwent Valley Heritage Way.

Stephen McKay

Main Street, Ambaston

There is not much to Ambaston, a hamlet in the parish of Elvaston, although it did get a mention in the Domesday Book. Essentially it consists of a few houses stretched along a dead end road from Shardlow close to the River Derwent (from which it is protected by a flood bank).

Stephen McKay

Dead end path, Ambaston

'Dead end path. No through route' the sign says and, indeed, the poorly defined footpath wanders along for about a mile beside the River Derwent before petering out opposite Draycott.

Stephen McKay

River Derwent, Ambaston

The River Derwent here is in its lower reaches, a few miles before its confluence with the River Trent, where it flows through a broad flat valley and winds round extravagant meanders.

Stephen McKay

Ambaston - broken sign

Oh dear. 'Welcome to Ambaston. Please drive carefully' says the sign but it is somewhat hors de combat. Perhaps somebody failed to drive carefully or maybe there is some other reason for this calamity.

Stephen McKay

Former gravel pit, Ambaston

This large pond is seen here in the fading light of a winter afternoon. Derbyshire County Council has granted permission for further quarrying in this area but no work has started yet.

Stephen McKay

Bridleway to Bellington Farm

The bridleway winds around flooded gravel pits, tightly fenced in to ensure that there is no easy access to the water.

Stephen McKay

London Road, Shardlow

At one time this was a stretch of the A6 but Shardlow has now been by-passed and it has been downgraded to the B5010. The 'London Road' name reflects its old importance. The bus stops here are served by the Skylink Derby service which runs between Derby and Leicester via East Midlands Airport. It runs on a 24-hours 7 days a week basis meaning that Shardlow and the other villages on the route have an astonishingly good bus service for a rural area.

Stephen McKay