The cold winter and late spring produced a striking crop of snowdrops (above).
A work party clear ditches to improve drainage in the wood (below).
[Photos: Carole Wheat]
Our woodland in autumn walk on 12th September is a second opportunity this year to visit Wilford Hill Wood, one of the Notts Wildlife Trust’s smaller reserves and not normally open to the public. Carole and Mick Wheat, voluntary reserve wardens for Wilford Hill Wood, will lead this walk.
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The cold winter and late spring produced a striking crop of snowdrops (above).
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Wilford Hill Wood is just over three hectares (about 7½ acres) of mixed, mostly deciduous woodland tucked away on the south of the West Bridgford built-up area. It is easily missed as only a short section can be seen from Loughborough Road, next to the cemetery. Although this reserve is managed by the NWT it is on private land where there is no right-of-way; so the easiest way to see it is by joining one of our organised walks there.
Our woodland in spring walk also took place at Wilford on 28th February with 8 people attending. The weather being cold and grey, which probably put off many people! The cold winter and late spring produced a striking crop of snowdrops (above right) and a few early violets. With the trees still bare of leaf, our visitors had a good opportunity to see the structure of the wood.
Wilford Hill Wood is too small a reserve to have a regular work party of its own. Maintenance is carried out on an as-needed basis by the wardens along with NWT staff and volunteers working from the Trust’s base in Nottingham. This March such a work team spent the best part of a day repairing paths, clearing ditches to improve drainage (below right), making-safe fallen branches and coppicing – all traditional woodland management tasks. On leaving the wood we were lucky to see a yellow brimstone butterfly.
We hope our woodland in autumn walk will be timed just right to see the wood in its glory of colour, just before the leaves fall. There should also be plants such as lords and ladies with their bright red berries, some ‘conkers’ and, if we are lucky, late-flying butterflies such as holly blue and, maybe, some fungi on show. So: come along and join us for an opportunity not to be missed!
If you are a member of the Notts Wildlife Trust but unable to join this walk, then you may arrange to visit the wood by contacting the Membership Team at the NWT office on 0115 958 8242. Kindly note that you may only visit this reserve on an organised walk or by arrangement.