As winter turns to spring and the days get longer, new life is starting to appear at National Trust gardens, parklands and estates, from spring flowers to newborn lambs and nesting birds.
Shropshire is a great place to experience some of these seasonal changes and to get out and see some stunning displays of spring colour. Or go looking for some of the wildlife that will be starting to appear again in the woods and parklands after a long dreary winter, so get out and about and put a spring in your step!
There will be lots happening in National Trust gardens as well, with gardeners busy preparing for the season ahead. This could be anything from a good spring tidy-up to cutting acres of lawns and trimming miles of hedges. Many gardens offer tours or the opportunity to buy plants, and the gardeners are always happy to chat to visitors and pass on their wisdom, no matter how busy they are!
Attingham Park and Dudmaston Estate both offer plenty of opportunities to see spring flowers, from the earliest snowdrops to later flowering bulbs like tulips, bluebells and daffodils. Both places offer a variety of walks through the gardens or parkland, and there are woodland trails for the kids to explore and run wild. For the really energetic there is also a family run through the Attingham parkland after dark on 14 March.
There should be lots of birds around for visitors to spot and identify at this time of year – it’s the start of the breeding season and a time of change, with the departure of winter visitors and arrival of summer migrants like swallows and cuckoos. Many birds will be busy gathering nesting material, and will be at their colourful best as they prepare for the breeding season and try to attract a mate.
Carding Mill Valley is a great place for a spot of birdwatching – especially as it has a purpose built hide. The calls from the grouse up at the top of the Long Mynd can often be heard quite clearly and due to improved quality of the heather there are more and more nesting pairs each year.
Carl Hawke, Wildlife and Countryside Consultant, says:
“Much of the work to care for the incredible gardens and parklands takes place while we are open to visitors and people are fascinated to find out how long it takes us to mow the lawns or cut the hedges – and they very often pick up a few tips for their own gardens! These outdoor spaces all offer a variety of habitats for native wildlife as well as plants and we actively manage the woodlands to benefit wildlife.”
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