Winter

Winter's cold wet conditions can make a trip to Hob Hey seem unappealing. However, winter's moods can create some lovely sights. The bare, stark branches of the wood's ancient trees can look like Tolkein's ents, frozen in place. The stream, usually just a trickle in summer, can become a raging torrent, noisy and busy. This gives a great photo opportunity, especially for long-exposure images.

Winter's variable weather can give some beautiful views, too. Snow can carpet the ground and blanket the trees, rendering everything pure white. Fog can give the wood a mysterious look; the background fading into invisibility bringing the foreground into stark contrast. Sunrises can be spectacular, especially in frosty or snowy conditions, and getting up really early isn't required, unlike summer.

At first glance, winter may appear to be a quiet time for the wood's inhabitants. This is not the case, however. Many birds live in the wood during the winter and the short days and low temperatures mean they have to feed constantly to stay alive. With the lack of leaf cover, winter is a good time to see the birds in action.

Many birds live in the wood all year round. The smaller ones are very numerous: goldcrest; wren; dunnock; chaffinch; blue, great, long-tailed and coal tits; and robin. There are several woodland specialists, too: nuthatch; treecreeper; great spotted woodpecker, all will be active and noticeable. If you stand still and watch, you’ll often see flocks of birds working their way through the canopy, oblivious to your presence.

Winter visitors include redwing, siskin, and woodcock. The larger birds: stock dove; woodpigeon; jay and jackdaw are very easy to see. During the evening tawny owl may be heard as well as little owl from the bridle path. On your walk to the wood, there's a chance of seeing a barn owl. These ghostly birds fly silently at low level, giving a wonderful encounter when one comes close.

In late winter great spotted woodpeckers proclaim their territory by 'drumming' on a branch. The noise is incredible, sounding like a mini-jackhammer. It is only the birds' adaptations (including a shock absorber in their heads) that prevent them from bashing their brains in. Fascinating to watch.

Apart from the birds, there’ll be much activity from mammals with wood mice, voles, shrews, grey squirrel, fox, and badger all active (most during the night, however). In snowy conditions, their tracks are evident the following morning for the hardy visitor to ponder over. Can you identify them?

Late winter sees the first green shoots of the spectacular wildflowers that live in the wood. The tiny green spots against the brown earth are harbingers for what’s soon to come.

Winter

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