Brandon Marsh is a fabulous wetland reserve but also includes meadows, scrub and woodlands. It’s also one of very few places in Warwickshire where you could see all three UK woodpecker species. From late winter to early spring listen out for the laughing call of green woodpeckers and the short loud drumming of the great spotted woodpecker. If you are very lucky you may hear the longer quieter drum of the sparrow-sized lesser spotted woodpecker. In the spring, you may also hear the explosive call of the otherwise shy Cetti's warbler and watch out for the tumbling display flight of lapwings over the islands.

On the outskirts of Rugby, the mile-long path at Ashlawn Cutting is one of the best places to see the first flush of spring butterflies. The sunny banks and early flowers attract sulphur yellow brimstones, painted ladies and the unmistakable peacock butterfly. In the spring, frogs, toads and smooth newts are also drawn to the pools. Tadpoles and newt larvae may be seen hunting in the water before juveniles emerge later in the spring to disperse.

The old spoil heap at that forms part of our Bishops Hill nature reserve is home to a very special and rare butterfly - the small blue. Our smallest British butterfly it is easily over looked at it flies low over the vegetation but a visit in mid-May should provide views, especially on a warm day. The air will also be full of the buzzing of crickets and grasshoppers.

Many birds arrive back in the UK in the spring having wintered in warmer climes. The warblers are one such group and announce their arrival with loud song. At Rough Hill Wood near Redditch, blackcaps, chiff-chaff and willow warblers join the resident thrushes, wrens and robins providing the dawn chorus. Early May is when this reaches its peak and a very early morning visit will be duly rewarded.

If you fancy a touch of the exotic how about a visit to Elmdon Manor in Solihull. Recent years have seen this woodland and the adjacent parkland colonised by non-native ring-necked parakeets. These dove-sized, vivid green birds nest early and will be noisily squabbling over nest holes in late winter. By the spring they will have young in the nest so take a look up into the trees before the leaves obscure the view. It is a great site for other woodland species too such as nuthatch, tree creeper, great spotted woodpecker and sparrowhawk.

Spring is great for all of our woodland reserves. Bluebells, primroses, celandines and many more must flower early before the leafy summer shade. Clowes Wood, Wappenbury Wood and Dafferns Wood host many species including wild garlic, stitchwort and anemones. These ancient woodland flowers are an important nectar source for many species of insect. and a stroll through the glades on a warm spring day will no doubt provide encounters with several species of bumblebee visiting the blooms.

Huge ravens breed at only a few locations in Warwickshire. On the outskirts of Stratford upon Avon they nest in trees on the Welcombe Hills providing amazing views across the surrounding countryside. A visit in the spring should result in views of noisy family groups. listen for the distinctive cronking call and watch for aerobatic manoeuvres where they sometimes fly upside down. Little owls, kestrels and green woodpeckers also nest on the reserve.

This article was written for our spring membership magazine. To receive our next magazine with even more inspiration, why not join the Trust as a member?

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