From Buxton, we took the A54 and near Clough Brook, Allgreave, we dropped off and took the country lane which quickly led to a footpath through a flowery farmyard. Crossing over a stile we were into open countryside with views over the lovely Dane Valley as it wended its way through gently rolling hills. Our path led immediately down a short path flanked with Honeysuckle and on through a lovely banking of wild flowers where we spent some time recording many species such as Ladies Bedstraw, Tormentil, St. John’s Wort, Cranesbills and Birds Foot Trefoil, – and then onward through sloping meadows with scattered gorse. It seems to be a year of Foxgloves and they were in abundance.
Before long our path descended into a small shady tree-lined Dell where a wooden foot-bridge crossed a tumbling stream – a perfect habitat, cool and moist, for ferns and woodland plants. Up the other side and out into sheep grazed meadows, we saw our destination for lunch. Many stopped at the Ship Inn with its delightful garden tables and good fare, whilst others walked down the lane to Danebridge where, beside the river, a small brewery had taken over a farm complex and now sold their own delectable brews with seating areas inside and out.
It might be said that a few of our members managed to partake of both establishments – and why not.. such good things rarely come along every day.
The sun began to twinkle out, finally, and as we set off again butterflies and insects began to appear in some abundance… We walked past a fish-farm with its small reservoir and on to the lower banks of the Dane where we crossed a bridge over to the other side. From that point, we followed an old, narrow ‘canal’ which had been cut to take water from the River Dane to Rudyard Lake (quite some distance). It was overgrown with water plants, rushes and Bulrushes but this was a rich habitat for wildlife.
We walked with the canal on our left and the river – through the trees – on our right.. This stretch was a walk full of sunny patches and tree-shaded areas. This is where the Pied Flycatchers have nested, but there was no sign of them at this time of year. We came to a wonderful 
flowery area with a huge amount of umbellifers, Marsh Valerian, Meadow-sweet and Bramble which was attracting insects and butterflies. Here we found White Letter Hairstreak on bramble flowers, Red Admiral, and many Whites. We were also excited to find the wonderful black-spotted yellow Long-horn Beetle Rutpela maculata which is at home amongst the flowers.
We came to our last bridge of the canal and turned away to walk up a country track towards a small farm hamlet where we found our well-hidden footpath. This signed our way through fields of sheep following a rolling route until our last stile led into the lanes joining the A523 at Rushton Spencer. Crossing the road we went down Station Road to where the Knot Inn – amazingly just re-opened that very day – made us very welcome and where our coach awaited our return.
It had been a very interesting, flowery and real-ale day. Altogether we had around 70 plant species, 4 butterfly species and also Large Yellow Underwing, Burnet and the lovely Latticed Heath moths.
A list of flowering plants seen.
Sonia Allen 