Signs of Spring with the ESOL Learners
Monday, April 9th 2018
It's been a busy first day back for me (Ian), with the first port of call being today's visit by a 23 strong ESOL Learners group from Colburn.
Although usually confined to the classroom and a rigorous English language course the group has been visiting nearby places of interest with their families over the Easter break.
We started the day with a leisurely walk around the Easy Access Trail spotting signs of Spring as we went; from the bursting buds of the Willow at the path edges, to the multitude of Frogs and Toads on the Scrapes, there's certainly a lot more happening now than before I went away to the Lake District!
After the Scrapes we stopped a while in the Lake hides to watch the Moorhen, Mallards and Greylag Geese basking on the banks in the sunshine.
Rather than completing the Easy Access loop we headed down to Risedale Beck to play Pooh sticks and admire the Primroses along the coppiced banks.
After lunch we headed back out to the Scrapes for an hour of pond dipping, finding Sticklebacks a plenty as well as the odd Damselfly nymph, Whirligig Beetle and Water Boatman.
After seeing off the group at the gate it was straight back to the Workshop to put togther some much needed signs warning of 'Toads crossing', which will be put up on my way out this evening.
All in all, a very busy and enjoyable first day back. Very much looking forward to cracking on with some physical work with the Volunteers tomorrow.
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Friday 27th May 2022 | During Reserve Opening Times
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Undergrowth Newsletter
Undergrowth Newsletter Winter 2020/21 Issue 54

Find out what has been going on at the reserve during the lockdown!
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Recent Blog Posts
- More Nature
- Tread Quietly, Tread Gently
- Plenty To See
- No Snow, No Hail
- Tawny Owls and Grey Herons
- More Flowers
- Nature
- Moving Slowly Through Spring
- Nesting Time
- Winter Spring
- Warm Days
- Biscoff Cheesecake, Brownies and Bakewell Tarts!
- A Busy Day for Some
- Volunteers at Work
- Around the Reserve
- A Ringing Day
- Flowers at Last!
- More Spring Photos
- Moths!
- A Special Visit
- Spring Has Sprung!
- Reducing, Reusing and Recycling!
- Almost Spring
- Thank you!
- Ringing Resumes!
- Arrival of Spring
- Strong Support
- Back To Work!
- We Are Open!
- Update
- Temporary Closure
- Large, Little and In Between
- The Weather
- A Wild Worky Day!
- Malik and Corrie
- Forest School Fun
- Winter Work
- Preventing The Spread of Bird Flu
- Thank You and Congratulations!
- Job Jobbed!
- Hazel, a Hedge and more High Vis!
- Moths
- Many Happy Returns!
- Winter Scenes at Foxglove
- Sheer Dedication!
- Back to Work
- Happy New Year!
- All Kinds of Weather
- Last Volunteer Day 2021
- Pillwort
- Volunteers at Work
- Winter Work Continues
- Edward the Elf Returns!
- Sunshine and Blue Skies
- More Clearing Up
- December Winter Worky Day
- Dangerous Trees
- Tidying Up After Storm Arwen
- Storm Damage
- Willow Weaving
- Considerate Contributions
- Storm Arwen
- Look Both Ways
- Never Work With Wildlife
- Traditional Woodland Skills
- Technicolour Nature!
- November Worky Day
- Woodland Work
- All About Fungi
- Look North
- Autumn Views at Foxglove
- Happy Halloween
- Bat Monitoring
- Forest Fun
- Hazel Coppice
- Wildlife Activity Day
- Winter Visitors
- Fungi Walk
- Happy Holidays!
- Bakewells, Banana Cake and Brushcutting!
- A Busy ‘Typical’ Day?
- Wet and Wild!
- Autumn Bird Ringing
- Changing Seasons
- Moths
- Extra Help
- Redwing
- Lively Livestock!
- Meadow Management
- Half Term Plans
- Autumn Worky Day
- QAVS Award on Display
- The Beginnings of Autumn
- Weekly Round Up
- Busy Bees
- Views Around the Reserve
- Colours
- Army Welfare Service
- Ringing at the Crater
- Hints of Autumn
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