Letah Wood
Approximately 4km south of the town of Hexham is Letah Wood. Thought to be the only woodland with truly wild daffodil displays in spring. Designated a site of special scientific interest and a local nature reserve, it is managed by the woodland trust.
Pied Flycatcher
From a birdwatching point of view the wood is best visited early mornings in late April / May for migrant breeding birds such as pied flycatcher (main picture) who readily take to the numerous nest boxes. Letah wood has consistently recorded the largest numbers of these birds in the County. This is of course too late for the daffodil displays but it will also be quieter as Letah is popular with visitors and at certain times of the day - dog walkers.
Other common woodland birds are here throughout the year as are red squirrel , however a springtime dawn chorus here is delightful.
All year: Nuthatch, treecreeper, tits, great-spotted woodpecker, finches, tawny owl etc joined in spring by Pied flycatcher, redstart, possible wood warbler ( although they are declining in Northumberland), garden warbler, blackcap and chiffchaff.
Birds you may hear at Letah Wood
Allen banks is best visited in April / May where songbirds will be vocal and therefore easier to see. All common woodland birds are joined in spring by summer visitors including Pied flycatcher and Common redstart.
