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Helpston's wildlife

Nightingale

Nightingales would have been much commoner in the early nineteenth century and indeed throughout most of the twentieth century they could be heard singing from Royce Wood in the early summer, bringing their wonderful song [click to listen] right into the heart of the village itself.

Despite this reduction in range, mainly due to loss of habitat (the original Royce Wood was cut down in the 1960's), Helpston is still a good place to find nightingales. Birds sing in Castor Hanglands, Southey Woods and Bainton Pits and until quite recently from Oxey Wood too. In 2004 there were eight singing birds at the Hanglands, with a further 2 at Southey Woods and 9 at Bainton. Back in 1965 a total of 23 were reported from the Hanglands alone.

The first nightingales arrive from 20 April onwards, although as Clare describes their song gets better and stronger as their short season progresses, ceasing abruptly in early June.