Winter wildlife at Packwood

View of Packwood's garden on a winters morning

As the nights draw in and the evenings get colder, the wildlife starts getting ready for winter. When you are walking around Packwood see if you can spot some of the wildlife we have on the estate.

Fantastic fungi

If you are planning on visiting our welly walk, see if you can see any fungi growing on the dead wood and trees. You can also find them growing in the lawns and in the dung of our sheep.

Have fun seeing what fungi you can spot. Just remember not to touch any of them as some fungi can be really toxic.

Winter wildlife

Winter is a brilliant time to look out for roosting birds hiding in the trees on the estate and snuggling up in our out buildings.

Have a look out for our favourite winter friends like the robin (Erithacus rubecula) who will be feeding on the winter berries in our gardens.

Robin (Erithacus rubecula) at Packwood House, Warwickshire. — The robins love taking any spare crumbs off of your plates.

If we are lucky enough to get a light dusting of snow it will be a great time to take to one of our circular walks around Packwood and look out for footprints of the foxes and badgers that live around here.

Spiders webs

If you fancy a early morning autumnal walk you will really see how many spiders there are. In our woodlands you will see silk spun between trees, in our hedgerows and on the outside panes of the house windows, all beautifully outlined with the dew of the morning.

Dew on Spider's Web — Dew on a spider's web on a misty morning

Bountiful berries

Holly (Ilex aquifolium), ivy (Hedera helix) and mistletoe (Viscum album) bring much needed colour to the otherwise bare trees this time of year. You will also get to see them used in the house for our Christmas decorations.

Mistletoe (Viscum album) at Packwood House, Warwickshire — The symbol of love at Christmas.

These distinct white berries have been used by pagan druids and recognised for their fertility properties. Perhaps you can find someone you love and seek out the mistletoe around the house.