Heathland seasons: Winter

I think we can all agree that winter has most certainly arrived on our heaths!

Plummeting temperatures and a sprinkling of snow bring a magical feel to heathland walks, but it can often seem like there’s not a lot going on wildlife-wise.

That couldn’t be further from the truth… You just have to look a bit harder to spot things of interest.

On your next heathland wander, why not keep an eye (or ear!) out for the following: –

• Bright yellow gorse flowers peeking out of the gloom like little yellow Christmas lights.
• Bold red tops of tiny Devil’s Matchstick lichen.
• Monosyllabic buzzing of chilly Dartford Warblers as they tell each other about the best places to find tasty spiders. If you’re patient, you might catch a glimpse as one flies low between the gorse or heather.
• Vibrant orangey-yellow antler-like Yellow Stagshorn fungi poking out of a tree stump.
• Hibernating ladybirds tucked into cracks in Scots Pine bark.
• Cackling of flocks of Fieldfares as they fly high above you as they search for hauls of juicy winter berries.
• Glistening frost-covered spiderwebs that turn dulled heather plants into glamorous works of art.

I particularly love going out for a wintry heathland walk when a thick fog descends. Everything around me feels like it has moved into the distance and anything I can still see has its edges softened. I feel like I am all alone on the heath, with only the birds for company and that’s great.

And, before I start imagining I am Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights, I’ll end this here!

Michael
Education Officer

P.S. Why not download our winter spotter activity sheet?

Enjoy some wintry fun on your local heath with your family and see if you can find some key species and evidence that valuable conservation work has been taking place.

Click to download the winter spotter! (and don’t forget to share with us what you find on your heathland walk!)