We pulled into the frosty car park just as the sun was rising. It was early in the morning and I was still a little bit sleepy, but the sharp winter air woke me up. The tall oak trees that surrounded the car park looked like they were crying icy tears. Everything was silent. We set off into the cold, solemn woods with our dog charging ahead.

That’s when I saw it! Further on down the path, there was a huge mound of soil and pine needles. It was a wood ant nest! I took a closer look and, to my surprise, a few ants were dozily trundling around it.

Meg’s depiction of a hibernating wood ant. Illustration: Family handout

In winter, wood ants go into a sort of hibernation. They go to the bottom of their nest and, like penguins, huddle together to keep warm. Maybe these ones were woken up by the morning sun, and now they were busying themselves repairing it for spring. In the summer, when the nests are active, there’s a huge crawling mass of hundreds of thousands of individuals.

Wood ants are thought to be small because they are ants, but they are also one of the largest ants in the UK. If an intruder interferes with their nest, they use a protective spray that comes out of their bottom. I think it smells of fish and chips.

Thrilled to see such an interesting species, we walked back to the car to get warm. Along the way we saw even more wood ant nests. Once you get your eye in, they’re quite easy to spot.
Meg, nine

Read today’s other YCD, by Rosie, 10: ‘A snowy census of all the local animals’