Seasonal Stories at Woods Mill Nature Reserve
If you take a walk around our Woods Mill Nature Reserve in 2026, you’ll notice some arty new editions!
Hand illustrated information chalk boards have been placed around the reserve to highlight the species and habitats this special reserve supports.
The chalk boards are the handiwork of our own Kai Hilton, Communications Officer – Design and Visitor Experience, who has given us an insight into his inspiration to create them:
“I wanted to create something to brighten up our visitors walks at Woods Mill, giving a small slice of information about species you can see, or conservation work we have done. The plan is to rotate these throughout the year, so keep an eye out for new boards appearing seasonally!
I enjoyed the challenge of illustrating in a different format than I'm used to. I'm normally a digital artist, so using chalk pens with a limited colour palette was fun and it's always nice to take a break from screens. I had to think ahead because you have to wait for each layer to dry before moving onto the next, and in some cases, you need multiple layers of the same colour for a decent coverage. I'm pleased with how they came out and I'm excited that they are out on the reserve for visitors to enjoy. I'm sure my partner is just as happy, as I've been designing these on our dining room table for weeks!”
Thanks to our hard-working volunteers, the boards are now in place around the reserve – pop over for a Woods Mill walk and see how many you can spot!
Please note dogs are not permitted at Woods Mill Nature Reserve.
Visited Woods Mill Nature Reserve?