Discover Winter

Image of Felmersham Gravel Pits in winter

Image by Bob Izzard

"'Hear! hear!' screamed the jay from a neighboring tree,
where I had heard a tittering for some time,
'winter has a concentrated and nutty kernel, if you know where to look for it.'"

Henry David Thoreau

The temperature has dropped and the daylight hours are shorter.

A lot of our wildlife is less visible but there are still some intrepid animals out there, which will be active all through the cold months, and will be searching for food to keep them going. Already, some early signs of Spring are visible as well, if you know where to look.

Whether you have access to a local reserve or are staying at home, you can still enjoy nature throughout the winter months.

Mammal mysteries

Winter is a good time of year to see mammal tracks.

Here are some tips to help you identify who they belong to.

Identify mammal track

Male blackbird feeding on orange rowan berries

Image by Margaret Holland

Berries for the birds

Find out how to identify some common native winter berries
and make your garden better for wildlife by adding plants that produce fruit.

Identify winter berries

Beech woodland in winter mist with hoar frost

Beech woodland in winter mist (Fagus sylvatica) with hoar frost, West Woods, Compton Abbas, Dorset, England, UK - Guy Edwardes/2020VISION

The Positives of Winter

There is still a lot to enjoy outdoors during the colder months of the year.

Our Communities and Wildlife Officer Rebecca Neal highlights her favourite winter wildlife.

Explore with Rebecca

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Vixen in the Snow during winter, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire - Danny Green/2020VISION

Wildlife in Winter

Winter is one of the best times to see wildlife. Without the leaves on the trees it's much easier to spot different species.

Mud, frost and snow can reveal footprints better and cold weather will encourage birds to visit your garden for warmth and food, particularly if you've a good supply of bird food hanging around!

Meet the wildlife