Highwoods Preservation Society

APRIL comes from the Latin APERIRE meaning opening of leaves. Many trees burst forth in a wonderful array of delicate spring greens.Many birds will be nesting and our resident birds will be joined by migrants from the southern hemisphere. April is the month for the Cuckoo, which in the woods, will be searching out the nests of Dunnocks in which to lay their single egg.

Blackcaps will be singing their beautiful songs from the tops of trees. They are a dull brown bird with the male having a black top to its head and the female one of russet brown.

Squirrels may have young before the month ends. Listen out for strange squeaks from their drays (which look like giant bird nests) of which there are several in the woods.

In the ponds look out for Newts which regularly come to the surface to breath. Both Common and Palmate (with webbed back feet) are present in the woods.

Butterflies to be seen this month include Orange Tip (an April speciality), Small Copper in the open areas, and Speckled Wood along the woodland paths.

Many spring flowers start to bloom including Wood Sorrel, Wood Anemone, Lesser Celandine, Yellow Archangel, Bluebells etc.

Our special Spring Flower Walk this year is on Saturday, May 3, starting at 10.30am.