Exploring Worcester Woods

Nick Cripps

A Hint of Spring

MARCH

March roars in like a lion and leaves like a lamb. Winter softens. Shadows shorten as the sun climbs higher in the sky and although the weather can often remain harsh, frequent bursts of warming sunshine prepare us optimistically for spring - the season of growth.

TREES & SHRUBS

South facing hedgerows and woodland edges first reflect the shift in seasons. The Blackthorn, often referred to as Sloe or Hedge Plum, is the first shrub to blossom.

During March the Hornbeam, an uncommon tree in Worcester woods, shows signs of leaf growth. Like Hazel, the Cob-nut, it will bare catkins if enough direct sunlight is available.

The Silver Birch prefers open scrub and heath land where there is less competition for the sunlight. It is a relatively short-lived tree, and many can be seen within the woods fallen and decaying. Its slim, purple upper branches are hung with catkins.

The evergreen Yew flowers late in March and early April. Its flowers are small and cream-coloured and easily spotted amongst the tree's dark foliage. Nunnery Wood has many young yews.

FLOWERS

The earliest woodland flower is the Lesser Celandine. It’s heart-shaped leaves and butter-yellow flowers cover the ground in profusion, spreading to form a mat of flowers at the woodland edge. The Wood Anemone is the colour of snow. Like all vernal flowers it appears, before the trees are in leaf, on the sunlit woodland floor. The anemone possesses no petals, instead it has five or more white sepals that open to reveal a cluster of yellow stamens. The anemone grows within all the woods.

Dog's Mercury is a curious plant which inhabits gloomy woodland interiors - such as the entrenchment of Perry Wood. It has large fleshy leaves. The female plants have insignificant pale-green flowers, whilst the male has catkin-like spikes.

The Primrose and Cowslip are easily the most popular and attractive meadow flowers of spring. Both grow in the Mini Meadow at Nunnery wood and occasionally within Nunnery Wood. The primrose takes its name from the Latin, Prima Rosa - the first rose of the year.

BIRDS

Although back in February it was rare to find a nest with eggs, other signs indicated that the breeding season was imminent: Blackbirds and Chaffinches started their seasonal song; flocks of tits began breaking up into breeding pairs, and the inquisitive Blue Tit was exploring every little hole, crack and crevice.

Constant feeding to keep warm is the main activity during the changeable weather, especially for the small birds. Thus the berry-bearing shrubs around County Hall - privet, elder, guelder-rose, hawthorn - may attract Greenfinches, Redwings, Fieldfares, and Mistle Thrush. The feeding station at the Countryside Centre always provides a focus for tits, Dunnocks and chaffinches.

Whatever the weather the pools adjacent to County Hall are always worth watching. Grey wagtails, Little Grebes, Heron and waders, such as Snipe or Redshank have all been occasionally seen!

An unusual sighting within the wood is the Woodcock. If you’re suddenly startled by a pigeon-sized, brown bird, leaping up from beneath your feet, and zigzagging off between the trees, you can be sure you have disturbed one.

During March many of our resident birds pair up and establish breeding territories. By April nests will have been built. Robins, Blackbirds and Mistle Thrushes in particular will probably have laid clutches of four or five eggs. The mistle thrush is a conspicuous March bird: it sings loudly, feeds boldly on the open grassy areas, and nests within the ivy-clad trees of the wood edge.

Most of the birds that winter here will be moving back to their continental or Scandinavian homes. Redwings and Fieldfares are rare sights in Worcester Woods after March. Their departure coincides with our first African arrival, the Chiffchaff. Its onomatopoeic ‘chiff-chaff’ song, is for the birdwatcher the first sign of spring - more so than the Swallow or even the Cuckoo’s call

MAMMALS

Out in the meadows the surface runs of Moles appear as heaps of newly turned soil. Look too, for funnel-shaped holes in the turf - evidence that Badgers have been out grubbing for worms.

The yellowish-brown Wood Mouse, known as the Long-tailed Fieldmouse, is a shy woodland creature. It has large eyes, a white belly and moves mostly at night. The mouse does not hibernate and survives eating mainly nuts, berries and seeds.

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