When to see - May
Venture out in the countryside in May and you won’t be disappointed. This is a very busy month. Hedgerows burst into life, butterflies frantically feed and woodlands become a palette of colours from purple bluebells to the variety of different greens from the newly emerging leaves of trees.
What to see in May
To see a carpet of bluebells visit NWT Foxley Wood
The Rosary Cemetery in Norwich has a fantastic display of wildflowers during spring, including meadow saxifrage and primroses.
NWT Cley Marshes, NWT Hickling Broad and NWT Holme Dunes are all reserves where you may hear bitterns calling. Dawn and dusk are the best times to listen but on warm still nights they regularly call during hours of darkness.
The Hawk and Owl Trust reserve at Sculthorpe Moor is a fantastic place to see breeding marsh harriers. | | |
Where to go in May
Listen out for the beautiful melodious song of the woodlark at NWT Weeting Heath and NWT Syderstone Common as well as the area around Thetford Forest. Visit NWT Foxley Wood in early May to see a carpet of bluebells. From late May, you may be lucky enough to spot a Swallowtail butterfly at NWT Hickling Broad, NWT Ranworth Broad or RSPB Strumpshaw Fen. Take a walk through the chalk grassland at NWT Narborough disused railway line to spot spring butterflies in flight. See swallows at close quarters at the NWT Ranworth Broad reserve. Here the birds nest in the roof support beams and can be watched tending to their young from the comfort of the Conservation Centre.
Things to do in May
Take a dawn chorus walk through some of the NWT woodland reserves and learn to identify many of our bird songs – see the events guide. | | |