Sherwood Forest has a series of winter wildlife walks to help visitors get closer to nature and well and truly shake off those January blues.
If you’ve ever wanted to know more about British birds, then why not join a Birds for Beginners Walk with one of the RSPB’s expert volunteer guides on Saturday, 25th January at 9 am.
The two-hour walk among the ancient oaks of Sherwood will help participants identify woodland birds by their appearance and song.
From recognisable Robins to adorable long-tailed tits, winter presents a great opportunity to familiarise yourself with a range of species, which are more visible without the leaf cover of the trees.
On Saturday, 1st February (9 a.m.), we’ll focus on Winter Wings, understanding the habits and strategies birds use to survive the colder months.
This walk will explore how the forest sustains birdlife at this time of year and why varieties such as Coal Tits, Nuthatches, and Dunnocks remain so active here when other species have long since migrated to warmer climates.
The following day – Sunday, 2nd February (10:30 a.m.) – we turn our attention to the trees of Sherwood and how you can identify the assortment of trees at a time when many have shed their distinctive leaves.
As well as the Ancient Oaks, Sherwood boasts a host of native trees, and our walk leader will help walkers to tell them apart, understand their unique features, and appreciate their importance to the ecology of the forest.
On Saturday, 8th February (9 a.m.), we turn our attention to the forest’s Woodpeckers.
Sherwood is home to all three of the UK’s resident Woodpecker species: the majestic Great Spotted Woodpecker, the enigmatic Green Woodpecker, and the elusive Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.
You can already hear the woodpecker’s unmistakeable drumming resonating through the woodland canopy, and the Green’s characteristic ‘laugh’ or ‘yaffle’ is always a welcome sound.
If you are unable to attend on this date, then worry not – we have another Woodpecker Walk on Sunday, 23rd February (9 a.m.).
Please note that, as with all walks to see birds in the wild, there is no guarantee that certain species will be seen.
To book, simply visit the Events page of the www.visitsherwood.co.uk website.
• 13 Wildlife walks in Rushcliffe this season from Notts Wildlife South Notts Local Group
