Signs of Spring
Wednesday, April 11th 2018
Signs of Spring round two today, and we had a group of 10 come and join in despite the cold, wet weather.
After a short break in the Field Centre to warm up and take a look at the tadpoles and pond mud snails we headed out across the Scrapes towards the pond dipping platforms.
On route the group noticed a whole host of Spring time signs; from the Snowdrops and Daffodils by the Field Centre, to Rooks gathering nest building materials, Willow and Elder buds bursting, and Hazel catkins by the path.
Upon arriving at the pond dipping platforms on the Scrapes we were greeted by the sound of Chiffchaffs and ponds brimming with Frogs, Toads and spawn.
So far so good!
One of the group managed to find this Caddisfly larvae in its silk-spun twig and leaf case.
After our quick dip in the ponds we continued towards the Moorland via the Lake and Hague bridge.
As always Lark and Taurus proved most interesting, although they paid us no mind, barely lifting their heads from grazing by the far fence. Our next sign of Spring was the Bluebell shoots starting to emerge around the stone circle, and from there we headed back to the Field Centre to warm up and practice our colouring skills…
Back out into the cold and wet, we headed down to Risedale Beck to see the Primroses on the Hazel bank and play a game of Pooh sticks on the bridge.
All in all we managed to see the majority of the early Spring signs that people came to see and a few in the group even spotted a Tawny Owl whilst at the Hay Meadow.
During the afternoon it was back onto the Heath for me, where we continue to remove saplings and other vegetation that is threatening to shade out the heather.
Although difficult to see, a great deal of vegetation has now been cut and is ready to be removed from the paddocks tomorrow.
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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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