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Snowdrops in February in Fineshade Woods
It's February, so why not....?
... get out and about in Rockingham Forest this month. There are longer days and signs of spring to be enjoyed - here's some suggestions
1: Enjoy the new life emerging
There are Winter Aconites, Snowdrops, Pussy Willow, and Stinking Hellibore to be found. With other flowers emerging throughout the month, perhaps you could share your best signs-of-spring pictures via our social media sites?
2: Burn some energy
There are work parties all over the forest:
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Coppicing in Easton Hornstocks
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Scrub bashing with Butterfly Conservation
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Friends groups in Corby Woodlands
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Practical tasks in King's Cliffe
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Woodland tasks in Fineshade
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Friday volunteer group in Old Sulehay
Details on the volunteering and events pages​
3: Find some fungi
Have you ever heard of, or even seen the Tripe Fungus? It's a bracket fungus growing on dead trees and can be seen in February.
Check out our fungus pages to learn more
4: Keep an eye on flooded rivers
Very high rainfall this winter has meant that the water meadows in the Welland and Nene Valleys have been really doing their job. With the ground fully saturated, the river levels will quickly rise again if we get more rain storms
A good place to marvel at this is Turtle Bridge - one of the highly recommended places to visit
5: Follow the flocks of birds
Hordes of winter migrant birds are
still here and Fieldfares with their "chacking" calls are perhaps the most obvious. There are Redwing flocks too and it's well worth looking where farmers have sown winter bird seed for flocks of finches and buntings.
7: Plan a community orchard
NNC council has a new project to create and support up to 30 orchards with community groups and schools. There's full funding, traiing and lots of on-going support.
8: Test out a circular route
All is not well on the walking route that links King's Cliffe, Blatherwycke and Wakerley. Have a look at the map and see whether you agree about the need for kissing gates to replace some of the stiles.
9: Look for Adders
What! In February? Yes indeed, if the weather is mild it is very possible that male Adders will come out of hibernation to take advantage of a warm sunny afternoon. Have a look at Kev Clarke's article describing the ones he saw in February last year.
10: Listen for bird song
Robins have been singing all winter and in February Great Tits and Song and Mistle Thrushes can often be heard singing away on calm sunny days and announcing the coming of spring. There's a beginner's guide to bird song here.