Wildlife

Ancient Spring Gill Wood is carpeted with bluebells and primroses. Grey herons perform elaborate courtship dances and nest-build in the heronry, as lapwings start breeding on Wader Meadow and the regionally rare avocet sits tight on eggs.

Star species: grey heron, common frog, lapwing, avocet, spring flora.

Babies abound, with fledglings taking to both water and sky at Wader Lake. Hawthorn Wood is busy with feeding tits, finches and woodpeckers, while vivid dragonflies bask at the wildlife ponds and wildflower meadows bloom with yellow rattle and orchids.

Star species: common tern, avocet, oystercatcher, bee orchid, Northern marsh orchid, willow tit, great-spotted woodpecker, dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies.

Bird numbers soar as the reserve becomes a two-way rest and refuelling point. Whimbrel drop in and early overwintering visitors including black-tailed godwit and greenshank arrive. Our woodlands are sheltered sanctuaries, where jays bury acorns and young barn owls disperse, looking for territories.

Star species: teal, little egret, water rail, shoveler, kingfisher, fungi.

Curlew spiral down at dusk to roost alongside redshank and teal, as frost adds delicate sparkle to our ancient woodlands. Long-tailed tits, bullfinches and redpoll are drawn to the feeders in Hawthorn Wood.

Star species: curlew, redshank, redpoll, long-tailed tit, siskin, bullfinch, teal.