January is usually a time to look ahead to the year and make some fresh plans.

Our team welcomes two new faces this month: a new craftsperson and community ranger, both of whom will be regularly visiting Savernake Forest to look after the site. With the return of a community ranger to the team, we hope to resume our volunteer group in due course – we will keep you posted on the Forestry England – Savernake Forest Facebook page.

January is a particularly exciting time at Savernake Forest as we welcome bird nesting season. One of the early signs that birds are preparing for nesting is increased birdsong, signalling a call to attract mates and mark out their chosen territories for nest building.

You may also notice birds becoming skittish in behaviour as there’s an urgency in the air to pair-up, claim their patch, and breed. You’ll probably spot your local birds gathering nesting material such as twigs, grasses, or moss

Goshawks are known as the ‘ghost of the forest’ for its elusiveness. Listen for their distinctive call on a clear, cold morning at the end of January. If you are lucky, you may see one fly above the forest with its potential mating partner and perform what is known as a ‘sky dance’.

The way in which we care for the forest wildlife is guided by the Savernake Forest Plan, which we are currently developing, and shall share for consultation later this year. A forest plan directs our forest management activities over a 10-year period. Our work will be guided by the commitments we made in the Our Shared Forest land management plan.

Ongoing wet ground conditions continue to affect timber harvesting as we pause to protect valuable soils. The work we resumed last autumn – previously delayed from winter 2023 – will hopefully restart in the summer.

Work to thin trees at Bedwyn Common, Cobham Frith, and Chisbury starts soon, subject to contractor availability. As at Savernake, we will ensure ground damage is limited as much as possible.

As always, if you have any questions on the work we are doing at Savernake Forest, please email westengland@forestryengland.uk

by Nikki Morgans, Area Forester