The RSPB: Northward Hill

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Grey herons at St Albans (Aren't birds brilliant!)

Nightingale singing

Bluebells Hyacinthoides, in bloom Wood of Cree

White-letter hairstreak butterfly

Male whitethroat in song

Male marsh harrier over reedbed

Swallows chasing each other

Migrant hawker dragonfly in flight

Jay carrying acorn

Flock of crows at dusk

Fieldfare in snow with apples

Male shoveler dabbling

Walk among bluebells in spring and watch herons nesting in the treetops

Season

Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Weather today

15°C

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Northward Hill

Wildlife awards

Northward Hill is one of the best places for wildlife in the UK.

Top things to do in Spring

250 pairs of grey herons and little egrets nest in the trees in the UK's largest heronry. Nightingales return to the wood in April and sing in dense undergrowth
Carpets of bluebells from mid April-May
Avocets nest on reservoir islands

Top things to do in Summer

Watch out for hobbies hunting dragonflies over the marsh, while marsh harriers quarter the reedbeds
You could see the rare white-letter hairstreak butterfly in the woodland, or turtle doves on overhead wires
See the whitethroat dart rapidly in and out of cover, before heading to the south of the Sahara for the winter

Top things to do in Autumn

Swallows gather around farm buildings. Noisy jays in the wood gather acorns
Migrant hawker and common darter dragonflies can be present in large numbers
Migrating waders such as green and common sandpipers may be seen on the reservoirs

Top things to do in Winter

Redwings and fieldfares can be seen in the orchards below the wood
See the 4,000-strong rook and jackdaw 'spectacular' as they prepare to roost in the wood
Wintering wildfowl like wigeons, teals and shovelers gather on the reservoirs and flooded fields

What's on?

29 May
Spring Strings and Nightingales
Watching wildlife
9 June
Wild About You
Watching wildlife
7 July
Wild About You
Watching wildlife

Your photos

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Latest forum posts

6 May 2013
Northward Hill
Last post by Dr Hoo
1 replies
4 March 2013
Redpolls in Northward Hill
Last post by Jasmin
0 replies
3 February 2013
Visit to NWH 03/02/13
Last post by Dr Hoo
0 replies

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Latest blog posts

17 May 2013
Open door policy at Northward Hill
Posted by Rolf W RSPB
14 May 2013
Wild About You this Sunday
Posted by Rolf W RSPB
15 April 2013
Spring time!
Posted by Luke

Downloads

Map of Northward Hill

343Kb, PDF

Date: 3 April 2012

WildSquare Bingo

2.8Mb, PDF

Date: 21 June 2010

Living classrooms

Get your class or group exploring the natural world in fun and innovative ways.

Extend your stay

Find other attractions nearby at Enjoy England
Find accommodation at Cottages4you

Other places to visit

Avocet feeding in water

Cliffe Pools

Open water and big skies with great views of huge flocks of birds and the Thames

Flooded meadows at the RSPB West Sedgemoor nature reserve

West Sedgemoor

A specially protected haven for birds all year-round

RSPB Marazion Marsh reserve and St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall

Marazion Marsh

A peaceful walk around a beautiful wetland

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