Countryside In March

Wildlife Watching In March

Brown Hare - March is said to be the best and easiest time to see hares, before the greenery of the spring growth starts to hide them from view. Hares can be found all over the country - though they are not as common as they used to be, largely thanks to loss of suitable habitats - with reported 'hotspots' being around Wiltshire, Hampshire and East Anglia. Hares breed throughout the spring and summer but are particularly associated with this month - remember 'mad march hares' - and March is a good time to try to see them  'boxing' which is part of their 'courtship and fending off'.

Birds In March

There's plenty of arrival from overseas to look forward to, plus plenty of setting up of territories too...

With lengthening days and the promise of spring in the air you'll probably notice more birdsong when you're out and about in the garden or woods. This is a great opportunity to learn and recognise the songs of the various birds as there are fewer birds singing to start with and you can pinpoint the sounds more easily - blackbirds, robins and thrushes are probably the most familiar ones to start with. There are many books and CDs you can buy or borrow from a library to help you learn all the different tunes and then match them up with their singers.


Wheatear- arrive in the SW first, along southern coast by late March, then set up territories in our uplands before starting courtship.

Lapwings - setting up territories this month and the males will be performing their amazing 'noisy tumbling flight' looking as though they are going to go crashing to the ground, recovering just at the last moment, quite heart-stopping to see!

Birds of prey - common buzzards and sparrowhawks are good ones to look out for doing their swooping displays and dives as, again, they look to set up territories.


Flora In March
Snowdrops - you might still catch snowdrops in some parts of the Uk this month, especially in the more northern areas

Primroses - pretty wild primroses, golden in colour, look for them in hedgerows

Daffodils - a real springtime favourite, their bright yellow colouring brightening up nthe countryside. See our separate blog entry on where to go for great daffodil walks this month

Wood Anemones -  a delicate white and pale yellow flower found on the floors of open areas in woodland. A clear indicator of ancient woodlands, they have a weak but sweet perfume.

Lesser Celandines - another pretty yellow flowering ground cover found in woodlands in spring.

Wild About Kielder Season Of Events

Goshawk Walk - 5th & 6th March 2011

The Forestry Commision are running a series of events this spring as part of the 'Wild About Kielder' season- a great chance to wildwatch under the guidance of the experts in this amazing part of Northumberland.

On the weekend of 5th and 6th March there is a Goshawk Walk, led by local bird of prey expert Martin Davison.

Other planned events this year include a deerwatching safari and bat night.

For more details on the 'Wild About Kielder' events click here

More Osprey Nests For Kielder

The Forestry Commission is erecting up to three more artificial osprey nesting platforms in Kielder Water & Forest Park in Northumberland.

Over the past two years six ospreys have being born and have fledged successfully in the 62,000 hectares (155,000 acre) wilderness using a man-made  making Kielder only the second location in England where the bird has recolonised naturally after becoming extinct in the country.

The habitat of wood and water at Kielder is perfect for ospreys and experts say there is plenty of room for more ospreys to settle and raise young.

UK Holidays With A Green Conscience

Go Green For Your Holiday – It’s Easy

Being green can reach all corners of your life – from what food you eat, to where you shop, how much energy you use in your home and what car you drive. Nowadays you don’t have to forget about your green conscience when you take a holiday, there are lots of people out there who care as much about the environment as you do and embrace green practices in the running of their tourism services and businesses. 

Whatever kind of holiday you’re looking for there’s a good chance you can find a green version of it.

Like a bit of luxury? Being green doesn’t mean putting up with less quality or having to compromise on your holiday. The UK has some gorgeous boutique style hotels which readily combine luxury with eco friendly attributes.

Prefer something a bit less formal for your accommodation? Opt for a farmhouse B&B that has adopted its very own green agenda...

Want to self cater and have greater space and flexibility? There are plenty of green cottages and eco cabins out there to rent for a holiday or short break.

Is camping more your thing? Caravan and camp sites obviously haven’t forgotten the importance being green either. If you prefer camping with a touch of glamour – or glamping as it is fondly known – then you might even fancy a stay in an amazing yurt... the adventure and eco credentials of camping but, most would say, with a bit more comfort!

To discover green holidays in the UK click here

Wildlife Watching In February: The Badger’s Are About

If you’re looking for some wildlife watching inspiration this month then February is, apparently, considered to be the start of the ‘badger year’ and you should be able to witness plenty of territorial activity going on because it’s the main mating season. This is also the month that sows give birth below ground.  If you brave the cold weather to head for your local badger sett then you should be rewarded with some signs of activity. Things to look out for include:

·         badger footprints

·         old discarded bedding (dried leaves and grass)

·         traces of fresh, new bedding in the area around the sett

Where To Watch Badgers

There are numerous locations all over the UK and plenty of groups and websites where you can find out more – click here to download the Badger Watch list of places to view these amazing creatures.

If the idea of badger watching on a cold evening is less than appealing then you might prefer watching them from the comfort of indoors – yes, you can do this! The aforementioned list includes some places where you can watch badgers from inside, including bed and breakfasts.

The Wild & Green Badger Watching List Includes:

·         The Lake View Bed & Breakfast in Grasmere which, as well as enjoying amazing fell views, has its very own badger sett in the garden. The badgers can often be viewed from your own B&B bedroom and there’s a book in the entrance area where people have recorded details of their badger sightings whilst staying there. For more details click here 

 ·         The Forestry Commission run special badger wtahicng experiences at the Cropton Forest in Yorkshire. For more details visit their website. 

For more details on badgers:

To find out more about badgers visit the BBC Wildlife Finder website