Catkins and volunteers

Even though the snow keeps falling and the winter seems set to continue, there are signs of spring around if you care to look. Along the beck the Hazel catkins are starting to lengthen and the buds are swelling on the trees and bushes.

We are eagerly awaiting the first flowers. Last year the Coltsfoot made the grade as the first plant in flower and was already out by now. The heavy, prolonged snow this time round has made a difference and as the days grow longer there will be a race to catch up. Rest assured we will be here with the news as soon as we find anything daring to open!

In the meantime the work on the reserve goes on and we had 13 volunteers here who worked in the heavy snow this morning. We cleared straggly gorse from one of the net rides and continued on with work on the heathland. You can hardly see Ann through the undergrowth in this picture of first thing this morning. The Dales School students joined in at lunchtime for an hour as well.

Also our new map was delivered and installed on the outside of the field centre this morning. This now has the Wetland path and hide as well as the Moorland Trail marked on it. With new photographs as well, it has made a colourful replacement for our outside wall.