The changing seasons on the heathland
The seasonal changes to the heathland bring with it new birds, plants and animals. Changes in climate can also be seen on the heath such as the influx of Painted Lady butterflies or more frequent visits from such birds as the Hoopoe.
Spring
Some species of heathland birds, such as the woodlark, will begin nesting on or near the ground from the end of February. Stonechats alarm call is like two stones being tapped together. The song of the Dartford warbler is like cutting polystyrene with a cheese-wire. These small rare birds often share the singing perch at the top of a gorse bush. Green hairstreak butterflies, and day-flying emperor moths are a sign that Spring is here, along with adders basking in the sunshine along heathland paths.
Summer
Summer is the time for heathland plants to flourish into fields of pinks and purple. Red leaved sundews, native insectivorous plants, can be seen in wet boggy areas, absorbing nutrients from midges and mosquitoes. On summer evenings, hobbies are busy catching some of the 38 species of dragonflies found on heaths. Whilst nightjars are churring and scooping up moths.
Autumn
By autumn migrant visitors such as hobbies and nightjars will have returned to sub-Saharan Africa but hen harriers will be passing through from their summer locations on the northern moors. There will be fewer reptiles around as they begin to hibernate, along with many other animals such as bats.
Winter
Winter is time for land management. Leggy gorse is chopped down and encroaching birch and pines are burnt on controlled fires until the end of March. Urban Heaths Partnership wardens work together with many volunteers and partnership organisations to prevent the heath returning to woodland. All ready to start again in the spring...
