Spring Flower & Winter Bird Walks

The Next Guided Walk at Hillhouse Wood is the Spring Flower Walk

Bluebells likely to be seen on Spring Flower Walk

Following the successful Winter Bird Walk in March (see report below), the next Guided Walk is the annual Spring Flower Walk on Saturday 27th April. Steve Hallam will lead the walk in and near Hillhouse Wood. Previously called the Bluebell Walk, it has become difficult to pick the optimum ‘bluebell’ date for the walk although there will always be plenty of Spring Flowers to see. The walk will start at the Old Church at 2pm.

Other upcoming Friends of Hillhouse Wood activities are:

Dawn Chorus Guided Walk on Saturday 18th May, and
Stall at the Village Fete on Saturday 6th July.

Winter Birds – Steve Hallam Reports

Of all the guided walks that I lead, the winter bird walk is the most unpredictable. The weather can be variable and off-putting, whilst at this time of year the birds move around looking for food. So, you can be never sure which species you will encounter and whether you will be able see or hear them through the driving rain or howling gale.

February 22, 2024February 28, 2024

Winter Bird Walk & Fungus Foray

The Next Guided Walk at Hillhouse Wood is a Winter Bird Walk

Following the successful Fungus Foray in November (see report and video below) the next Guided Walk is the annual Winter Bird Walk on Saturday 2nd March.

Steve Hallam will lead the winter bird walk in and near Hillhouse Wood, offering a chance to see resident woodland and meadow species and some winter visitors.

Image of great spotted woodpecker — Great Spotted Woodpecker Seen in 2022

The walk will take in Hillhouse Wood and surrounding hedgerows. Strong boots or wellies should be worn, as we may encounter wet conditions underfoot! To join the walk meet at the Old Church ready to leave at 10 am.

Check other upcoming events here.

Fungus Foray – Ian Rowling Reports

The first Fungus Foray for several years took place on 25th November on a crisp, bright ‘n breezy morning. Seventeen took part, hunting down fungi ranging from bellcaps, measuring perhaps a couple of millimetres across their caps, to these birch polypores which are up to 20cm across. They feature in an Alpine tale of a bronze age killing. Among the deceased’s possessions were strips of the very same fungus we were observing 5,000 years later, demonstrating the value he placed upon it. It exposes things which our modern educated minds have largely forgotten, things like:

December 6, 2023December 6, 2023

Hillhouse Wood AGM 2023

Images of Hillhouse Wood for AGM 2023 News item

The FoHHW AGM 2023 will be on 13th December

The Friends invite both members and non-members to attend on Wednesday 13th December in the John Lampon Hall at Orpen Hall. Refreshments will be served from 7 pm with the meeting opening at 7:30 pm.

Jonathan Jukes, Woodland trust Officer, will give a talk after the formal business has concluded.

Formal Agenda

The Friends of Hillhouse Wood

29th Annual General Meeting to be held in the John Lampon Hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday 13th December 2023.

November 20, 2023February 22, 2024

Autumn Fruits & Fungus Hunt

The Next Guided Walk at Hillhouse Woods is a Fungus Hunt

Following last months successful Autumn Fruits walk (report below), is the first Fungus Hunt for several years on 25th November.

Ian Rowing will lead the “fungus hunt” to seek out these elusive fungi. He will aim, with the help of those with him, to find a variety of mushrooms and toadstools in and around the wood, and explain something of their fascinating life cycles and why fungi are essential for a healthy woodland. We will also keep an eye out for visiting winter birds.

The walk will take in Hillhouse Wood and surrounding hedgerows. Strong boots or wellies should be worn, as we may encounter wet conditions underfoot! To join the walk meet at the Old Church ready to leave at 10 am.

The Autumn Fruits Walk – Steve Hallam Reports

September 14, 2023February 22, 2024

Autumn Fruits Walk

Find out about local Autumn Fruits

A selection of the autumn fruits you are likely to see on the walk

Steve Hallam will lead a guided walk at Hillhouse Wood on Saturday 23rd September to seek out autumn fruits. Join him and you can expect to learn about local berries, soft fruits, nuts & seeds. He will let you know which ones to eat, and which ones you definitely need to leave alone. You will also hear the folklore associated with them. You can reasonably expect to see around 20 different varieties.

Previous years have revealed a pleasing quantity of late flowers as well. On one recent Autumn Fruits walk, walkers saw hundreds of:

May 21, 2023February 22, 2024

Steve Hallam leads Big County Birdwatch on a Dawn Walk

Once again, Steve Hallam led a successful Dawn Chorus walk through Hillhouse Wood on 6th May. This year it was one of 19 bird walks taking place in Essex over the Coronation weekend.

Steve Hallam reports:

Well, it looks as if I must have done the odd good thing in a previous life. Despite the distinctly dodgy weekend weather forecast, we had a lovely morning for our 2023 Dawn Chorus walk. Not that we could see this of course, at 03.45, but at least we knew we’d be staying dry. A nice number of 14 people also turned out, despite the distraction of a certain Royal event later that morning. Also different this year was that we had folded the walk into the programme of The Big County Birdwatch, organised by the Essex Birdwatching Society. This had been moved to take place in Spring, rather than Autumn. It was pleasing to welcome EBWS people to the walk.

May 4, 2023May 31, 2023

Coronation Weekend – have you got plans?

Have you got plans for the Coronation weekend?

If you don’t have plans for Coronation weekend perhaps some of the following might appeal:

Friday

The Vocal Zones Choir will be celebrating the Coronation in style at St Mary’s Church from 7:30 pm, tickets at the door are £3 (cash) to include wine and light refreshments.

Saturday

Some of the birds seen/heard at the 2022 Dawn Chorus walk

Why not take in the Dawn Chorus and be back home in time for the Coronation? Steve Hallam will be leading the walk starting from the Old Church at 3:45 – read more about this, and several other bird walks taking place this weekend, here.

Coronation Picnic in the Upper Castle Park will run from 10 am until 4 pm. Bring your own picnic or buy from street food stalls from Colchester Market.

Sunday

There is a Family Fun Day Coronation Celebration at the Mercury Theatre’s Piazza from 11 am – 3 pm. This event is free and includes live music, family games & crafts and cream teas.

April 25, 2023April 25, 2023

Walk the Dawn Chorus 2023

Dawn Chorus 2023 with Friends of Hillhouse Wood

The Dawn Chorus Walk 2023 is taking place on a busy weekend with Bird walks all across Essex. It will form part of the “Big County Birdwatch ’23” which being organised by the Essex Birdwatching Society. First, though, a report by Steve Hallam on the recent Spring Flower Walk at Hillhouse Wood.

Click here if you want to jump to the bird walks.

Spring Flower Dilemma

It is always a dilemma as to which date to set for the Spring Flowers walk. This is because the timing of when the various species flower can vary considerably between early and late seasons. This year I anticipated that the season would be early – so naturally it has been late. The solution was obvious, and so the ‘Bluebell’ walk was re-christened as a ‘Spring flowers’ one. The forecast for the afternoon was either for sunny periods or rain showers, depending on which forecaster you looked at. Either way, undaunted, a pleasingly large group of 22 assembled at the appointed hour and starting point.

April 7, 2023April 9, 2023

Spring Flower Walk 2023

Spring Flower Walk 2023 with Friends of Hillhouse Wood

Early Purple Orchids similar to those seen

This is one of a few guided walks the Friends of Hillhouse Woods run each year. They work with The Woodland Trust to look after this beautiful remnant of ancient woodland.

Last years’ Spring Flower Walk identified nine flowers in the first few yards, also many birds and other natural delights. The stars of the walk were Early Purple orchids that were flowering in profusion on the bank above the top pond. Walkers saw a total of 29 plants and trees in flower, which shows what a rich little patch of nature we are lucky enough to have.

Don’t miss this years’ walk!

February 17, 2023February 17, 2023

Winter Bird Walk 2023 -will a Waxwing show this year?

Winter Bird Walk 2023

The Winter Bird Walk 2023 takes place on Saturday 4th March at Hillhouse Wood with Steve Hallam leading. Walkers should meet at the Old Church at 10 am (weather permitting). We advise wearing stout footwear and warm clothing & with a warm drink in a flask. Walkers can expect to see a range of resident woodland and meadow species as well as some winter visitors. Last year the walkers saw or heard: