Light levels are low, and further blocked by the trees, but the enclosed frozen space has a feel of its own, and is shared by rustling birds, and tunnels of view created by the artificially aligned trees.
As you get to the old willows, the trees thin out a bit and you are hit with a sudden unexpected light. You are completely hidden from the rest of the reserve, but can hear the shouts of others playing all around, cut-off from everything but eavesdropping on the rest of the world with beautiful snow-covered trees all around. The willows are still there, as always, a seemingly unchanging constant in a constantly changing reserve, a reminder of what the newly planted trees strive to be.
Once back on the path towards Savages Wood, you can divert onto a path which runs parallel to it, and closer to the school fence. The path is much more light at this time of year, with the lack of overhead foliage, and the warmth from underground has started to melt the snow already.
And the wildlife survives, with small birds flitting around, squirrels in the trees, given away by a sudden shower of snow as they shimmy up a branch to the warmth of their winter dreys. But although it is cold, it isn't as cold as two years ago - the lake isn't freezing over. But the cold does change the visitors - look closely and you can see two pairs of teal on the lake, winter refugees making use of what's on offer.
