YWT Moorlands - 24 February 2013

Moorlands is a lovely little woodland nature reserve a couple of miles out of Skelton, close to the York ring road. The site was planted in Victorian times with a collection of rare and beautiful (if you like that sort of thing) rhododendrons and azaleas and a number of exotic trees notably a fine snake barked maple. The site has a level circular path so is great for all visitors though it can get a bit muddy at this time of year.

On arrival we were greeted by a singing Skylark in the field opposite the nature reserve, the first I have heard this spring. The woodland was alive with birdsong, with Blue, Great and Coal Tits all singing vigourously. We enjoyed a real adventure; the kids loved seeing what they could find in the leaf litter and climbing on the various logs and stumps. Plenty of Snowdrops were flowering and many shoots of Daffodils were poking up through the leaflitter. A calling Nuthatch near the acer glade was the highlight birdwise.