Wednesday 28 November 2018

Enjoying our wonderful woodland


Autumn has been unseasonably late this year and we have had to wait until the first weeks in November before we have truly seen the characteristic autumnal colours around the reserve’s woodland. And it has been worth the wait, providing visitors with a stunning backdrop. All deciduous trees lose their leaves in autumn to minimize water loss during the cold winter months, an adaptation to help preserve moisture in their branches and trunks. Also, with decreasing daylight, less photosynthesis can take place and so a tree without leaves is in a state of dormancy and requires less energy to maintain. As trees start to “shut down” their photosynthetic power house in the leaves, chlorophyll; the pigment that harnesses light, breaks down and in doing so results in an array of different colours and hence the fantastic range of autumnal shades that we see across our woodlands.  It is of particular note when walking along the newly opened path that borders the entrance road as you now feel totally immersed in the reserve all the way from the reception hide. Now open, this access makes walking to the south side of the reserve much more pleasant and avoids any traffic on the approach road.

Visiting school children take part in a range of activities on the reserve but one of my favourites is to look at the trees and help them identify them by name. By using detailed identification keys children as young as 7 and 8 can learn how to identify trees from their leaves, their seeds and even their bark. By the time they leave most children will have a collection of leaves and pine cones wedged in their pockets that they can produce once back at school and confidently name. Local primary schools can visit the reserve free of charge and bookings are now being taken for the Spring term at www.yorkshirewater.com/education.