Wildscapes for Wellbeing – The Forge and Erewash Meadows

The majority of this film is within a private nature reserve that is known locally as ‘The Forge’. It is at the old Butterley Works site that was used historically for iron and steel making. The reserve is significant for butterflies and is wonderful to visit in the summer. The owners of the site have very kindly let us use the footage of the site for our wildscapes for wellbeing videos.

Erewash Meadows forms part of the video and is part of the largest area of floodplain grasslands and wetlands in the Erewash Valley.

In spring and summer, the reserve's ponds and the wet sections of the canal are a refuge for grass snakes, amphibians and dragonflies. Butterflies and many other insects breed and feed on the wildflowers growing in the grassland. The meadows are best known for their birds. In spring lapwings can be seen performing their impressive aerial displays

Explore Erewash Meadows

We have four videos taken at each reserve; a 360 Tour, immersive static sounds with and without music, and a quick 2 minute tour.

360 Tour - 10 minutes

This video starts with a panoramic view from the sky looking over the beautiful reserve. At around 4 mins the tour continues on foot from the reserve entrance so you can virtually visit the reserve with us. There is a button on the video to allow you to turn the screen left, right, up and down so you can see the reserve from 360 degrees whilst walking through! Enjoy your visit!

To interact with the 360 video move your mouse across the screen to look around. Alternatively, you can look around using the arrow keys on your keyboard or on the screen in the top left corner.

Immersive Sounds without music - 10 minutes

This video is for those who just want to enjoy the stillness of the reserve. Listening to the sounds as though you are actually there. There is a button on the video to allow you to turn the screen left, right, up and down so you can look around you whilst sitting still! Enjoy the peaceful calmness.

Immersive sounds with music - 10 minutes

This video is for those who just want to enjoy the stillness of the reserve. With relaxing music and the sounds of nature. There is a button on the video to allow you to turn the screen left, right, up and down so you can look around you whilst sitting still! Enjoy the peaceful calmness

Quick Tour - 2 minutes

For those with only a few minutes to spare, this video includes an introduction slide and then a quick walking tour through the reserve with music.