Cheshire through the seasons

woodland

WildNet - Andrew Mason

Explore

Cheshire through the seasons

What to look out for in Cheshire

Every season has its highlight, take a look at our seasonal lists for things to spot.

Spring

Our woodlands are home to many spring flowers such as primroses, wood anemones, lesser celandines and of course bluebells. Our hedgerows also start to bloom too - look out for blackthorn and hawthorn in flower.

Frogs, toads and news return to ponds to breed - can you see any spawn?

Many birds start arriving in the UK from their winter homes such as swallows, sand martins, swifts, and wheatears.

Summer

Meadows and farmland are popular places to hear the song of skylarks high above you.

These are the best months to see insects, butterflies, moths, and dragonflies. There is also an abundance of wildflowers to look out for at our road verges, meadows and coastline and our heathland turns purple with heather flowering in August.

If you are out and about in the evening you may also catch a glimpse of bats flying.

Autumn

This season is the one where we enjoy the changing leaf colours from green to vibrant yellows, oranges and reds. Our woodlands are also home to a selection of multi-coloured and variety of shaped fungi.

Trees and shrubs are now bearing berries - the perfect time for making blackberry jam.

 

Winter

A fantastic time for birding, look out for knot, dunlin and other wading birds along the Wirral coastline.

During harsh weather members of the thrush family may also make a visit to your garden such as fieldfares and redwings.

Waxwings often visit Cheshire too, take a look a places where winter berries flourish.

Another spectacle worth taking in are starling murmurations. Watch these tightly packed flocks undulate through the evening air usually starting around dusk, as birds gather together ready to settle down in their selected roost for the night. 

At the end of winter don't forget to look out for your first snowdrop too!

 

Helpful guides

Man in bluebells c. Tom Marshall

Man in bluebells c. Tom Marshall

Search for an event or reserve near you

In these challenging times our work will still continue to defend local wildlife

We can’t do this without your support so please donate what you can.
£