大象传媒

Oakwell Hall Country Park is situated just off the M62 - an unlikely spot for a Spring walk, you might think. Much of the Country Park was once the site of a colliery which was worked right up until the 1970s.

The sound of the motorway is never really far away and the Trail even includes a disused railway cutting.听 Now, though, wildlife is returning and at the heart of the Park is its splendid old Hall and gardens which make Oakwell a pleasant place to stroll in at any time of the year.

Here, in Spring, visitors can keep an eye out for signs of birdlife and animals as well as looking into the ponds and checking on the progress of frogs and toads. Head Ranger Richard Aspinall says: "Spring is simply the best time to be out and about in the countryside - there's so much happening and it all starts from here. Every day brings the first sighting of something new, be it butterfly or flower, bird or tadpole."

Armed with camera and recorder we've been following Richard around just part of the Nature Trail.听 Take a look at our pictures and you'll see we start OUR walk just outside the Hall!

There was snow in the air when we set out but, even so, there were definite signs of Spring along the way. From marks made by voles in their holes to mating frogs, there was certainly plenty to see.

Look carefully to see what's under the water!

As Richard points out, Spring is not necessarily a happy story for all Oakwell's inhabitants: "There are huge numbers of the young of every species - be they frog or invertebrate that perish. It's regrettable but it's nature. It's a cut-throat business."

So, that's why we spotted such a lot of frogspawn in the ponds! And, it turns out, the sweet little robin can be very belligerent when defending its territory and the moorhen is really a bit of a thug.

As Richard says, for many species, Spring is "about getting ahead of the competition. It's about being earliest and first if you can."

But, as we discover, "Seasons are arbitrary." There are already signs of Autumn and Winter in the trees.