Print pageSeasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Throughout spring, you should hear a variety of woodland birds including great, blue and coal tits, greenfinches, chaffinches, blackbirds, song thrushes, great spotted and green woodpeckers establishing territories. Brimstone butterflies are among the early species often seen.
As well as the bluebells in spring, there are good showings of wood anemone, wood sorrel, lesser celandine, dog's mercury, greater stitchwort (found mainly on the southern path), with primrose, wood spurge, honeysuckle and butcher’s broom elsewhere - each buzzing with a variety of species of bumblebee.
Summer
During summer months, the birds are less obvious, busy feeding their young. In the open, coppiced areas, you may find white admiral butterflies, while along the southern hedge, red admiral, marbled white, comma and peacock butterflies might be spotted. In the meadow, other plants you may find include centaury, lady's smock, and fleabane.
Autumn
You will notice an increase in the number of garden bird species in the wood, as well as visitors such as fieldfare and redwing. Throughout the wood are fruiting bodies of fungi such as fly agaric, parasol, King Alfred’s cakes, Jew’s ear, dog stinkhorn and various bracket fungi. The leaves changing on the beech, hazel, ash and field maple add extra colour to the wood.
Winter
Although a quiet time for birds, you will hear mistle or song thrushes singing on bright days, and possibly see goldcrests, lesser redpolls and treecreepers on the trees. Buzzards and red kites can often be seen circling overhead. You may also startle a roe deer or as likely a muntjac deer.