Spring has sprung in Aireville Park…

Is it just us or does it feel like Spring has definitely sprung?! A little walk in the dales today was a treat with daffodils about to come out and lambs gambolling galore! There are signs of the seasons changing everywhere and you don’t have to head into the dales to find them. A walk round Aireville Park in Skipton with your little ones will also make cold dark mornings fade into the distance.


We’ve taken our cue from the Woodland Trust’s Nature Detectives top nature spots for March and will be keeping our eyes peeled for blue tits. Apparently these tiny colourful birds start building their nests in early spring so should be flitting about any time now to the delight of eagle-eyed toddlers.

It’s about now that hedgehogs surface from hibernation so if you’re walking along the shrubbed paths of the park and the end of the day you and your little ones might be lucky enough to catch sight of them – our two year old was thrilled to see one shuffling past at about 6pm the other week. Apologies to anyone who heard the ensuing tantrum when we refused her calls to take him home with us!

The small tortoiseshell is one of the first butterflies to appear in early Spring so keep a look out as you go past Gawflat Conservation Meadow in the park to spot them drinking the nectar of wildflowers and laying their eggs in nettle patches. Although best to keep enthusiastic toddlers away from said nettle patches…

And finally the fantastic horse chestnut trees of Aireville Park – that provide great conkering in Autumn – will be bursting into bud. Their large sticky buds will open in March to allow their leaves to grow.

With Mother Nature doing her bit to keep us and our little ones entertained on walks – we just need to keep our fingers crossed the weather lasts! x