Try to imagine this short, after lunch walk as being in the shape of a tadpole. The walk starts at the bottom of the tail, goes clockwise around the body and then, back down the tail. At the end of the tail is the Hardwick Inn and car park, whilst the body comprises Hardwick Great Pond and a small area of wetland to the south.

This photograph is near the beginning of the section that follows the 'body of the tadpole.' The path is on a raised embankment that follows the curve of a large, round wetland feature. The feature is a 'Duck Decoy'. There is a stone structure (often wet underfoot) from which it is possible to look out into the decoy. Originally the decoy would have been cleared of shrubs undergrowth and covered in netting. The netting was used to trap the birds, which were then caught and prepared for the table at nearby Hardwick Hall. During the 1980’s the area was partially excavated but it has since been allowed to flood and has become an important habitat for the water vole.

To the left it is possible to see part of the 'netted' area, which is now a 474736.