As I step outside my front door into the cool of a sunny spring morning the chorus of birds is second to none. In the vast woodlands that line the steep valley at Warburg, just four miles from Henley, birds are at their busiest, whether they are pairing up, completing their nests, or already rearing their young. Lately I have been watching a pair of long-tailed tits building a wonderful domed nest amongst the scrub, woven with spider silk and adorned with lichen. Their finishing touch was to bring feathers to line the inside.

Warburg has lovely grasslands studded with violets and cowslips in spring but the best place of all is amongst the woodland. Grassland can take its time, but in woodland the race is on to flower before the deep shade of the tree canopy cuts out most of the light. Usually at the end of April or beginning of May the heady scent of bluebells fills the air. The pools of blue are enriched here and there by spikes of yellow archangel or the white stars of wood anemones. The pungent smell of wild garlic adds to the mix and its flowers turn parts of the woodland floor a frothy white.

Back at the office one of my favourite things to do in spring is to open the office window to hear croaking frogs spawning in the pond. It was a bit subdued this year — we've had two years of harsh winters followed by dry weather through March and April — possibly the worst combination for damp-loving amphibians.

Warburg is home to more than half of the butterfly species in the UK and as soon as I spot an orange tip I know spring has arrived for sure. This cheery butterfly has been a chrysalis through the winter, hidden amongst the vegetation. At Warburg they emerge in the sunny glades, mate and then the females look for garlic mustard plants growing in the sun on which to lay their eggs.

But this rich variety of wildlife is not here by chance. Throughout the year we carry out conservation work in the woodlands and grasslands to ensure that the wildlife can continue to thrive. And while the trees and hedgerows are teeming with wildlife we turn our attention to repairing fences and keeping footpaths clear so that Warburg is at its best for visitors who come from far and wide.

Warburg nature reserve is a great place to bring a picnic and explore over the Easter weekend. For more information about Warburg and other Wildlife Trust nature reserves across Oxfordshire, Easter family events and our latest news please visit www.bbowt.org.uk