Luke Massey/2020VISION
Where to see wildlife in spring
Spring is such an thrilling time of year as wildlife bursts into action after the cold winter months. Bluebells, primroses and cowslips adorn our woods and grasslands, migrant birds return and bird song is at its peak with the deafening dawn chorus.
Where to listen to the dawn chorus
April and May are great months to hear the dawn chorus, just as the sun rises. The peak time is first two weeks in May and the best place is near the edge of woods.
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) joins dawn chorus (c) Vaughn Matthews
Where to see orchards in blossom
Though many traditional orchards have been lost from our landscape, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust still manages several orchard nature reserves. As well as looking absolutely beautiful when the trees are covered in blossom in April, traditional orchards are also fantastic for wildlife.
Hereford City Branch field meeting at Hampton Park Meadow (c) Anne Cottringer
Where to hear woodpeckers drumming
A high pitch drumming sound echoing across a woodland in Spring is a sure sign woodpeckers are nearby. Of the three UK woodpeckers species, only the great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) and the rare lesser spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor) make this characteristic call advertising their breeding territories to attract a mate. Other birds do this mainly through song.
Great spotted woodpecker © Peter Cairns/2020VISION
Where to see wild daffodils
Seeing wild daffodils on a sunny day is a real spring-time treat as these dainty pale-yellow flowers bob in the breeze. Commonly known as the ‘Lent lily’ for its long association with Easter celebrations, they come into flower towards the end of March in woodland and damp undisturbed meadows. Once abundant, this wildflower is sadly now much rarer, having declined during the 19th century as a result of habitat loss. Here are some of the nature reserves where you can enjoy them.
Lea & Paget's wild daffodils
Where to see woodland wildflowers
When it comes to woodland wildflowers, there’s one plant that hogs the headlines – and it’s easy to see why! Bluebells are undeniably beautiful, carpeting the forest floor in a swaying sea of violet-blue petals. They flower around April and can be an indication that you’re standing in an ancient woodland.
But they aren’t the only wildflowers that grace our woodlands each spring. You could find the ground coated with wild garlic, scenting the air with that unmistakable aroma, or wood anemones with star-shaped flowers balanced atop long slender stalks. Combine these colourful carpets with the soundtrack of singing birds and you have an idyllic spring scene.
Woodland wildflowers (c) Paul Lloyd