The greatest thing about being a ranger is the opportunity it gives you to work both in an amazing environment and for an environment. As varied as it is, wherever I am and whatever I am doing, I find myself encompassed by nature. Sights, sounds, aromas and touch always come in to play and this is never more evident than when it comes to springtime. But, we aren’t quite there yet. Or are we?

The winter period is prime time for woodland management at work, or as someone once corrected me - woodland ‘care’ season. To be honest, I thoroughly agree. Whether it be coppicing Hazel, tree felling for open glade creation, veteranising and ringbarking trees to increase standing deadwood - often lacking in our ecological communities, or the thinning of weak Birch to encourage a healthy and long-lived tree-canopy, it is all about caring for the woods. Some tree work like this could be considered brutal by some, but parts of my winter work is essentially plugging gaps in our ecosystems by trying to replicate the handiwork of lost species such as the Beaver, Auroch, Bison and even Elephants that once occupied our lands. Without woodland care, understory flora would struggle to establish as would countless species of mammals, birds, herptiles and invertebrates.

A well looked-after woodland helps to provide clean air, flood prevention, huge carbon stores, balanced ecological relationships, flora and fauna species diversity and robust soil and fungal networks. I am so fortunate that I get to play a part in this vital conservation and I’d go as far as saying that this is my favourite time of the year working as a ranger.

Whether it be by rangering or wandering in my own time, recent weeks have given me so many indications that we are on the cusp of spring. Red Kites pairing up and nest building, reverberating Song Thrushes almost in full symphony, prevernal Wild Primrose blooming, Blackthorn blossoming, queen Tree Bumblebees searching for nesting sites, Pipistrelles in a dazed midday flight and the dawn chorus ever rising. Was this really all happening throughout February in the north of England?

Everything seems to be happening prematurely this year and it is equally as wonderful as it is worrying. Thanks to a few weeks of mild temperatures, the garden has provided me with this exact dilemma.

Amphibians are on the move, and none more so than the newts in my garden. The pond has been established for 18 months now, and on 14th February I noticed a few Palmates had returned to begin their breeding cycle which will likely keep them here until June. This has occurred around a month earlier than last year, further evidence that the climate is effecting everything around us. A couple of days later I observed them mating in the submerged vegetation. As magnificent as this is to see, it is slightly concerning with a proposed bout of snow and freezing temperatures on the horizon. Earlier than usual activity in our unpredictable climate means vulnerability. Time to make sure that the pond doesn’t ice over and set these little guys back.

Blue Tits, Great Tits and Robins have started investigating the nest boxes on a daily basis now so it won’t be long until materials start to be drafted in. With each passing year, it seems the boundaries of the seasons become evermore ambiguous, almost merging into one.

The resident Foxes have been an ever present over the last few months, snuffling around tufts of grasses on the pond perimeter. Perhaps my most major surprise of late was the mid February arrival of a Hedgehog. It is no secret that these spiny mammals are my personal favourite, but seeing one waking so soon from hibernation was certainly unexpected. Each night since it has visited but there is little doubt that this is a very healthily weighted hog. I suspect that this one hasn’t been hibernating for long as it looks like it has had a considerable amount of time to pile the pounds back on and was likely a very good size before winter set in.

Some of you will remember that back in November on a trip to the Lake District, I was revelling in several sightings of the Red Squirrel, minus my camera.

Well, another recent venture back to the same woodland stretch was equivalently rewarding. It is well documented that our native Red Squirrel population has been decimated over the last few decades, mainly because of habitat loss and the transmission of the squirrelpox virus from the their grey cousins. They remain in pockets of woodland with the occasional stronghold dotted around Britain. This is of course a sad tale but there is still hope for their recovery, especially with the reintroductions and natural migrations south of the Pine Marten. Often I hear of a hatred for the Grey Squirrel. Hate for any animal always strikes me as peculiar, but in my opinion they are a marvellous animal. They are just simply in the wrong place, and that’s not exactly on them either.

Sitting under tree cover in an ancient woodland is not only one of the natural habitats of a Red Squirrel, it is mine too. Nowhere do I feel more at home, calm and content. I managed to get close to this dexterous and sprightly rodent, but not too close. Just enough to capture the moment without too much disturbance.

The winter woodland colour palette provided the perfect backdrop for their striking russet fur, conspicuous tufty ears and cream underside. I was well and truly riveted. We can only hope the Pine Marten, a natural controller of the Grey Squirrel is allowed to prosper so that the trophic network in our countryside is yet restored, and sightings of one of the nations most endearing animals Sciurus vulgaris can become a commoner affair.

Spring is close, and to reference lexicographer Henry Cockeram and some forgotten words of the season, it won’t be long now until the leaves start to pullulate and the flowers begin to egerminate.