In August we took Ethel the campervan for a long weekend to Hayfield in High Peak, Derbyshire which is directly west of Sheffield and not far from Kinder Scout. The pic above was taken from out of the van window only ten minutes from Sheffield – glorious! It was beautifully lush compared with the arid south which had been struggling with drought and hose pipe bans.
Wildflower walk from Hayfield to New Mills
We followed the Sett Valley Trail which runs along an old railway line for 2.5 miles, mostly through woodland.
Common Ragwort – Senecio jacobaea
These alpacas were guarding the Ragwort admirably 🙂
![alpacas common ragwort senecio jacobaea hayfield aug 2022](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/alpacas-common-ragwort-senecio-jacobaea-hayfield-aug-2022-600x338.jpg)
Raspberry – Rubus idaeus
It was a beautifully cool and damp valley and the Raspberry was growing away happily.
![raspberry rubus idaeus hayfield aug 2022](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/raspberry-rubus-idaeus-hayfield-aug-2022-600x450.jpg)
Pencilled Cranesbill – Geranium versicolor
I do enjoy a Geranium and I’m now adding to my list of wild ones, even if originally garden escapes like this one!
![pencilled cranesbill flower geranium versicolor hayfield aug 2022](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pencilled-cranesbill-flower-geranium-versicolor-hayfield-aug-2022-600x450.jpg)
Yellow Loosestrife – Lysimachia vulgaris
![yellow loosestrife lysimachia vulgaris hayfield aug 2022](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/yellow-loosestrife-lysimachia-vulgaris-hayfield-aug-2022-600x450.jpg)
Broad-leaved Helleborine – Epipactis helleborine
This is only the second time I’ve found this Helleborine and this one had started to go over. The first time I saw one was near Pett in Sussex.
![broad-leaved helleborine going to seed epipactis helleborine hayfield aug 2022broad-leaved helleborine going to seed epipactis helleborine hayfield aug 2022](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/broad-leaved-helleborine-going-to-seed-epipactis-helleborine-hayfield-aug-2022-scaled-e1680883723282.jpg)
Indian Balsam – Impatiens glandulifera
We arrived at Torrs Riverside Park in New Mills which was a lovely setting for some history learnt from information boards about the local impact of the industrial revolution.
![indian balsam impatiens glandulifera new mills aug 2022](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/indian-balsam-impatiens-glandulifera-new-mills-aug-2022-600x450.jpg)
Walk near Kinder Reservoir
The next day Mike was keen to get up a bit higher to see the views so we headed up past the reservoir onto the moor.
![mike view hayfield aug 2022](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/mike-view-hayfield-aug-2022-600x450.jpg)
Cross-leaved Heath – Erica tetralix
Apparently a moor is a “a tract of open uncultivated upland, typically covered with heather” – there was plenty of that!
![mike cross-leaved heath erica tetralix hayfield aug 2022](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/mike-cross-leaved-heath-erica-tetralix-hayfield-aug-2022-600x461.jpg)
Ling Heather – Calluna vulgaris
![ling heather plant calluna vulgaris hayfied aug 2022](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ling-heather-plant-calluna-vulgaris-hayfied-aug-2022-600x450.jpg)
Rush – Juncus
A lovely spot for a paddle after a bit of a climb.
![stream with rushes hayfied aug 2022](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/stream-with-rushes-hayfied-aug-2022-600x338.jpg)
Bracken – Pteridium aquilinum
We found some fabulous views without having to climb too high, being still very unfit after breaking my ankle earlier in the year!
![bracken Pteridium aquilinum kinder reservoir hayfield aug 2022](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/bracken-Pteridium-aquilinum-kinder-reservoir-hayfield-aug-2022-600x338.jpg)
For this visit we stayed at Hayfield Camping and Caravanning Club Site which was a short walk along the river to the village and pubs.
Read about last time we visited the Peak district