Changing colours There is nothing quite like a walk in the woods on a crisp spring day. The air feels light and fresh. Green shoots start to appear from the dark brown earth. Insects and birds begin creating a symphony all around us. With the first woodland flowers spotting the ground, it is clear that spring is arriving.

Bluebells may be the big show for many springtime flower lovers, but some of the earlier blooming plants found in Oxfordshire hold a special place in my heart.

Primroses, with their delicate yellow petals and intoxicating scent, are a pleasure to find. Violets are also delightful little flowers with petals ranging from dark purple to white.

On a walk in the woodlands on a beautiful spring day, it is easy to take these lovely flowers for granted, but much work is done to preserve the open woods that they grow in.

A way through the woods Forests are constantly evolving. Open woodlands develop into mature forests that shut sunlight out and make it difficult for woodland flowers to grow. With careful conservation work, habitats that are suitable for a wide variety of wildlife can be maintained. One practice for habitat conservation that has been around for generations is coppicing.

Coppicing is a traditional woodland craft that keeps woodland open for the benefit of insects and plants such as early woodland butterflies, primroses and wood anemones.

To create a coppice, a tree is cut to a stump and re-growth is allowed to occur over a short cycle. The result is a mass of straight, narrow trees rather than one. Coppicing allows sunlight to flood the woods allowing even the smallest flower to thrive and grow.

Where to go and what to see BBOWT nature reserves are excellent places to go and see woodland flowers and to learn about what goes on behind the scenes to look after the special habitat they enjoy.

Foxholes Nature Reserve in West Oxfordshire is made up of woodland areas and meadows. The River Evenlode runs through it, making a diverse and beautiful area for walking and enjoying nature. The wardens working at Foxholes practise coppicing and other maintenance work on the woodlands to attract birds and insects.

Why not head down to the Foxholes reserve, or any of the other BBOWT reserves in Oxfordshire, and get out into the great outdoors. For more information, visit www.bbowt.org.uk