Feeling adventurous?
From peaceful woodland paths to wide-open wetlands and winter skies, our local wild places invite you to explore and try something new.
Here are three ideas for your next big, local adventure:
Wildlife Explorer: New Places, New Discoveries
Winter walkers (c) Debbie Bigg
Do you love exploring the wild and discovering something new? Whether you’re heading out to explore an unfamiliar nature reserve, watching winter visitors, trying to identify a new species or capturing wildlife through your camera lens, there’s always something to spark your interest. From hidden woodland wonders to fascinating wildlife on your doorstep, our local wild places are full of surprises. Read on, follow your curiosity, and see what you can discover next!
Young woman birdwatching at Rutland Water. - Terry Whittaker/2020VISION
1. Go birdwatching at Amwell Nature Reserve, near Ware
Explore lakes, reedbeds and wetland habitats, keeping an eye out for waterbirds and other wildlife. Bring binoculars and/or a camera/camera phone and take time to scan the water and reed edges for unexpected sightings.
Your challenge: How many different birds can you spot on one visit?
Balls Wood (c) Frieda Rummenhohl
2. Explore the woodland at Balls Wood Nature Reserve, near Hertford Heath
With two waymarked trails, the Hornbeam Trail and the White Admiral Trail, discover old, coppiced Hornbeams, ponds and woodland rides - ideal ingredients for an exploratory walk! Look out for Goldcrests, Fieldfares and listen out for a harmonious chorus of Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tits and Long-tailed Tits.
Your challenge: Photograph the patterns, textures and colours of the woodland.
Waterford Heath Nature Reserve © Charlotte Hussey
3. Find big winter skies at Waterford Heath Nature Reserve, near Hertford
Discover a varied landscape of open heath, grassland, woodland and chalk river - the River Beane. Find the Chalk Stream and Heath waymarked trail of approximately two miles, with plenty to explore and regular winter visitors such as Fieldfares and Redwings.
Your challenge: Capture the changing winter landscape, from sweeping views to tiny details in photos, sketches, a poem, or a post on social media.
Spark your curiosity
Always curious about wildlife? From spotting winter visitors to discovering the secrets of familiar garden birds, there’s always something new to learn.
Here are 3 ways to discover something new:
Turkeytail © Vaughn Matthews
1. Enjoy a fungi foray
Search fallen branches and woodland floors for colourful fungi, including Scarlet Elfcup, Yellow Brain and Turkeytail. Our winter colours blog explains how to spot these fascinating forms and appreciate their hidden beauty.
Your challenge: Can you find 10 different forms of fungi?
Nuthatch (c) Jon Hawkins
2. Become a woodland detective
Look closely at tree trunks for Treecreepers, listen for Nuthatches and watch for Great Spotted Woodpeckers. With fewer leaves to obscure the view, winter can be a rewarding time to observe birds and other woodland wildlife – check out our blog for suggestions of what to look for in winter.
Your challenge: Keep a log of what you see and where.
Holly © Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION
3. Go on a colour hunt
Who says winter is all grey? Head outside and discover the surprising colours hiding in the landscape. From bright red berries and golden leaves to vivid green mosses, colourful fungi and the glow of a pink sky, nature offers a whole spectrum of colour.
Your challenge: Pick a colour and see how many different things of that colour you can find in nature – you could share the challenge with a friend or family member or turn it into a friendly competition! Check out our Celebrate Colour in Nature blog for more tips.
We hope you’ve found something here that inspires your next adventure or will feed your curious nature. We’ll keep the ideas coming in our monthly newsletter so make sure you’ve signed up to receive it.