Spring at Sizergh

Young bird watcher using a telescope to watch birds on the veranda at Sizergh. The boy is wearing a green hoodie and staring intently down the lens. — Bird watching at Sizergh | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

The days are getting longer, and spring at Sizergh is a great time to spot wildlife and take in the sights, smells and sounds of the season. From Hawfinch spotting to the Spring Bird Challenge, step into spring at Sizergh.

Sizergh will be closed for three days, on 20, 21 and 22 May. This is to enable us to carry out urgent resurfacing works on the drive.

Hawfinch Watch

Sizergh is home to many species of birds, from barn owls to goldcrests, kestrels to pied flycatchers and many more.

One of Sizergh’s best bits is the Hawfinch – a beautiful, elusive and increasingly rare bird. Sizergh is a reliable and accessible place to see these birds close up.

Hawfinches are large charismatic finches with a bill powerful enough to crack cherry stones. At Sizergh these handsome birds prefer fallen seed from hornbeam trees that surround the carpark and garden.

The Spring Bird Challenge

The varied habitat across Sizergh’s estate provides diverse habitats for lots of other species, from dippers and kingfishers on the river Kent, to green woodpeckers and spotted flycatchers on Helsington Barrows, stock doves and kestrels over the species rich grassland and Marsh Harriers and Bitterns in Parkend Wetland.

The Spring Bird Challenge follows the new Holeslack accessible route and will introduce you to some of Sizergh’s special birds. The trail finishes in the great barn, where there’s the opportunity to crown your winner, and to find out where best to spot the species across the estate.

Garden highlights

The garden is really coming to life at this time of year, and garden tours are a wonderful way to immerse yourself. A member of the Garden team will lead you through the history and development of Sizergh’s garden through the centuries, current and future projects and seasonal highlights.

Out and about

There's the chance to get out on the estate and, if you're lucky, feel the sun on your face. Book onto a free, themed guided walk on Mondays - choose from 'Prehistoric Sizergh' or 'Ancient Trees and Magnificent Murals'. Or join a half-day nature tour with NaturesGems, complete with a delicious vegetarian picnic lunch. The bluebells are carpeting the woods, the birds are singing and wherever you wander there's sure to be a beautiful view.