May on the League Against Cruel Sports’ wildlife reserves

What a lovely spring it has been so far here on the League Against Cruel Sports’ wildlife reserves. 

The display of wildflowers in the hedgerows and woodlands has been spectacular, and the May blossom on the hawthorn trees is now out in its full glory. I always think it is a pity that the scent of May blossom doesn’t live up to its promise, but that doesn’t deter the hoverflies, bees and the other insects that buzz furiously around it. 

The light evenings give me the opportunity to get out for a stroll on the reserves after dinner instead of slumping in front of the TV, and evenings are a great time to see wildlife that is just waking up ready for their nighttime perambulations. 

Sitting outside a badger sett on one of the wildlife reserves I am amazed at how loud the birds’ dusk chorus is. The dusk chorus is less well known than the dawn chorus, but no less important to the birds that are either staking their territory or trying to attract a mate. As the cacophony of birdsong dies away it is left to a robin to have the last word before silence descends.  

Then just on-cue a distinctive black and white nose appears from the sett entrance and sniffs the air. It’s a still night and I am laying some distance away watching from behind a pile of branches, but I still hold my breath in case the badger senses that I am there. Once it is sure that the coast is clear, the badger emerges fully from its underground home and stops to absorb its surroundings. In the distance there are human voices and a dog barking, and the badger peers into the gathering gloom to assess the situation. Only when it is satisfied that there is no threat does it trundle off into the woodland in search of food. 

The middle of May also sees the first hazel dormouse surveys of the year on the League’s wildlife reserves. These cute little creatures, immortalised by Lewis Carroll in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, have suffered a huge decline in numbers in recent decades, but they are still thriving on our wildlife reserves. They prefer scrubby areas and woodland glades to high forest, and they feast on shrub flowers, insects, fruit and nuts. Even after 20 years of surveying, finding a dormouse curled up asleep in its nestbox is still a great thrill. 

Taking a few moments each day to connect with nature in whatever way you can, even if it’s just watching insects on flowers in a window box, really can be the perfect way to unwind and destress.