Home Garden Lifestyle - March 2021

HOW TO BE A NATURAL BEAUTY. .

Our few simple tips and tricks will help you to embrace your natural features, and make you feel beautiful...

MARCH 2021

ENJOY THE GARDEN Spring is one of the first opportunities of the year that we can enjoy our garden. Check out our March garden maintainence, as well as our guide to tree felling.

MOTHER’S DAY HOMEMADE GIFTS Mother’s day is just around the corner, and we’ve got a great shortbread recipe that will be an excellent gift this year.

SHOP YOUR OWN WARDROBE FIRST! With the prospect of a possible release from our year long house arrest on the horizon. I’m sure a lot of us have taken to the online retailors to begin shopping for a whole new wardrobe,but we are here to suggest a more sustainable option...

welcome to

S pring!

TIME TO GET OUTSIDE!

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Sutton, Woodbridge, Suffolk

INissue THIS 4

13

MADE WITH LOVE. . .

We’ve got a sweet treats section for you this month so it is not to be missed.

5 7

12

As the sun starts to appear it is the perfect oppoutunity to get out in your garden and get ready for the summer.

TREAT YOUR MOTHER’S LIKE QUEENS

It’s nearly Mother’s Day, so it is time to start thinking about your gift this year and we’ve got the answer.

Head to page 14 to discover our secret.

BE YOUR NATURAL BEAUTY Try out some of our natural beauty tips for yourself.

17 19

AM I ALLOWED TO CUT DOWN TREES. .

23

SPRING NATURE EVENTS

KNOW YOUR WOOD What is the best type of wood for your burner? You can find the answer on page 10!

SHOP YOUR OWN WARDROBE It is nearly time for us to get up and out again, so the dreaded outfit choices are already starting!

We suggest you shop your own wardrobe first - head to page 17 to see what we mean.

SPRING CLEANING CHECKLIST It is that time again, and our list can help you organise your time and make the most of your spring clean this year.

10

14

GARDEN JOBS

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO DECOUPAGE

With Summer on the horizon you may be wishing to create more open space in your garden by cutting down a few trees, but beware - you may be breaking the law.

There are so many things to look forward to during spring and we outline a few of these on page 23.

Decoupage is a very easy way to upgrade any piece of furniture. We have got a great guide to get you started.

No material may be reproduced in any way, or translated, without written permission of the publishers.

COPYRIGHT © 2020 IPLUS MEDIA

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that adverts and articles appear correctly, but Home and Garden cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the contents of the publication.

Home and Garden is published by iPlus Media.

Editorial: hello@iplusgroup.co.uk Telephone: 01242 312121 | Website: iplusmedia.co.uk Head office: Suite 2, 14 Union Street, Stroud, Glos, GL5 2HE

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher or editor.

THIS MONTH ON

MADE WITH LOVE

Treats

BANANA BREAD

SERVES 8 (1 HOUR AND 15 MINUTES)

INGREDIENTS - 1.5 cups plain flour - 1 tsp baking powder - ½ tsp salt - ¾ cup unsalted butter

- 1 cup brown sugar - 2 eggs - 1 tsp vanilla extract - 3-6 very ripe bananas

METHOD Add the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl and set aside.

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS: MAKES 14 (40 MINUTES)

INGREDIENTS - 220g all-purpose flour - 115g unsalted butter - 1 tsp baking powder - 100g granulated sugar - 50g brown sugar

In a separate bowl add the butter and sugar and whisk until fluffy and combined. Add in the eggs slowly and whisk.

Combine the dry ingredients into the mixture here. Stir in the vanilla and bananas until fully mixed.

Pour into your baking tin and bake for 45 minutes to an hour at 175 degrees C.

- 2 large eggs - 120g yogurt (plain/vanilla) - 60ml milk - 250g blueberries (fresh/frozen) - 2 tsp vanilla extract

RED VELVET COOKIES: MAKES 15 (2 HOURS CHILL TIME, 15 MINUTE COOKING TIME)

INGREDIENTS METHOD Preheat oven to 200 degrees C. Fill a muffin tin with cupcake liners.

Whisk flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl and set aside.

In another bowl, whisk the butter and sugars again until light and creamy before adding in the eggs one at a time. Add in the yoghurt and vanilla extract before combining all of this to the bowl of dry ingredients.

Spoon this batter into the cupcake/muffin liners and bake for 20-25 minutes before removing and leaving to cool.

- 200g plain flour - 20g cocoa powder - 1 tsp baking powder - Pinch salt

- 1 tbsp milk - 2 tsp vanilla extract - Red food colouring - 180g chocolate chips

- 115g unsalted butter - 150g brown sugar - 50g granulated sugar - 1 large egg

METHOD Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in a large bowl and set aside.

Whisk the butter and sugar together in a separate bowl until light and fluffy. Then beat in the egg, milk, vanilla and food colouring.

Combine the dry and wet ingredients to form a soft dough and add the chocolate chips.

Chill dough in the refrigerator for 2 hours then remove and leave at room temperature for 15 before rolling and baking.

Bake at 175 degrees C for around 13-15 minutes.

Natural BE YOUR

BEAUTY

Natural beauty can be such an achievable and rewarding goal for both your health and self-esteem.

The techniques we’ve listed in this article are affordable, easy and life-changing!

Looking after your skin and body is essential in preventing and reversing signs of aging as well as keeping from sun damage, facial asymmetry and skin dehydration. March means longer and brighter days; and with that comes higher risk of premature skin aging via sun damage. This is where UVA and UVB rays penetrate and damage skin cells and can have both short and long-term consequences.

The short term consequences of sun damage are often associated with sun-burn in the more intense hot weather (caused by UVB rays) resulting in red, burnt skin and even blistering in some cases. Now, the UK’s weather in March does not often result in sun burn, therefore, it is much more important to understand and protect your skin from UVA. UVA rays are longwave light rays from the sun that can penetrate the skin much deeper and can result in DNA damage of your skin cells. This will result in the skin becoming dull, dry and uneven, as well as showing premature fine lines and wrinkles.

Prevention is obviously preferable to reversal but it’s never too late to start.

So, wearing a good quality SPF every day will protect your skin and keep a youthful glow year-round!

Hydration is another key natural

beauty tip that is essential as the weather gets warmer. Keeping yourself well hydrated has many more benefits than just healthy, glowing skin. However, combining hydration by drinking enough water with hydrating skin care methods will ensure your skin is at its peak softness, health and resilience.

Consider developing a skin care routine specific to your skin type and try including products such as Hyaluronic Acid to lock moisture in and protect your skin’s barrier.

massages correctly and targeted to specific areas and issues. They are great for increasing oxygen flow to the skin cells, awakening the skin and speeding up the circulation in your face. Facial massage can allow the blood to bring more nutrients to the cells as well as help any facial serums to sink in quicker and be more effective. They are great for preventing and reducing fine lines

If you are someone who sees asymmetries, puffiness or tension in your face, consider incorporating a facial massage routine to see vast improvements to the overall structure and health of your face. These developments occur from the removal of toxins by stimulating the lymphatic drainage system to remove stagnant puffiness and swelling across the facial muscles.

While many spa and facial environments are still unavailable to us, there are many videos online dedicated on how to perform facial

and wrinkles and, with dedication and experience, can even begin to fix asymmetries and remove tensions to change and help the facial structures.

Spring

CHECK OUT OUR

Cleaning CHECKLIST

It’s that time of year again! With the lighter and longer days well on their way, many of us will begin our preparations for the big spring clean!

So, to make this year’s spring clean the best and most effective one yet, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of

our favourite cleaning tips…

MOTIVATION: Before beginning the big tidy, its important to get motivated. Crack out the speakers and put on a playlist full of songs that make you want to move!

Going in with the intention of making it a fun experience will keep up moral and encourage a better job.

If you live in a house with other people, try and get them involved too – after all, a problem shared is a problem

halved...

Try writing a list of the most important tasks to be done and share them equally between yourself and your housemates/family; this will ensure that you make the most out of your time.

REDECORATING: Having a plan to rearrange or redecorate rooms in your home is a great motivator and will really help to build the bond you have with your home. You don’t have to make huge changes to see a huge improvement in your space!

Just moving things around every now and then is great to make you feel like you’ve got a new mindset – not to mention making space to clean things you typically can’t reach.

TACKLE ONE ROOM AT A TIME: Working room to room is great for renewing motivation every time

you finish a section of your house. It also means you can keep all of your supplies together whilst cleaning for less fuss trying to move everything around!

WORK TOP TO BOTTOM: Cleaning the highest points in your home before chores such as vacuuming will allow you to manage your time effectively. Clearing out junk and dusting should come before making the bed and lighting candles.

This may seem like an obvious point but its going to help maximise the results of your efforts not having to do the same task twice.

MAKE THE MOST OF THE SUN: The spring sunlight is a great excuse to get

dusting, and window cleaning effectively.

Spring cleaning is so effective mostly due to the low but bright sunlight beaming in through your windows illuminating dust, marks and smudges that we may have missed through the winter.

Adding this extra effort will make your home look and feel much cleaner and put together. After all, mirrors and windows are probably parts of your home that people spend a lot of time looking at!

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It is important that you get your chimney swept on a regular basis. It ensures that your chimney flues remain clear and are safe to use, helping to guard against chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

NEST AND BLOCKAGE REMOVAL

Have you noticed twigs in your fireplace? That is one of the first signs that something is making a home in your chimney. Be sure to get in touch to talk about a safe removal.

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know your A CHIMNEY SWEEP’S GUIDE TO

THE DO'S AND DON’TS OF BURNING WOOD Did you know that some wood burns quicker than others? Or that your logs should have a moisture level of less than 20%?

Here experienced sweep, Richard Bryan at Wilkins Chimney Sweep

w d

gives us his sweep’s guide to best burning practices.

So, let’s start with the ‘baddies’, what you absolutely shouldn’t burn on your open fire or in your wood-burning stove.

Firstly, avoid any kind of fir tree e.g. pine or leylandii. Secondly, don’t be tempted to burn scrap wood i.e. old fence panels, pallets, etc.; these are likely to have been treated with wood preserver when they were made, which can give off harmful fumes when burnt in any kind of volume.

Firewood, even when dry, retains large amounts of sap and it’s this sap that can then turns into creosote (tar) when burnt, which builds up on the inside of your chimney and can easily ignite causing the dreaded chimney fire. Also beware of burning, chipboard or MDF. These have been made using resin which produces

toxic gasses when burnt, which are harmful to the environment.

BAD WOOD:

Pine. Leylandii. Scrap wood. Pallets.

Fir. Fence panels. Chipboard. MDF.

hand, has a much ‘tighter’ grain and will burn slower, saving trips to the log pile and pounds in your purse. Oak, however, should be seasoned for 12 to 24 months before burning.

So that’s the ‘no’s’ taken care of, now to find out what you should be burning and why.

The very best wood to burn is a well-seasoned hardwood log.

Seasoned logs have been stored in a reasonably dry environment for 6-12 months before burning. Types of hardwood include ash, beech, oak, and birch; most fruit tree wood burns well too But which wood burns best?

For a regular roaring fire, you should look for ash or beech logs. These two species have a more ‘open’ grain meaning they will burn well. Ash is the best ‘all-rounder’, burning well with little smoke. Birch has an ‘open’ grain so will burn very quickly meaning your log pile will diminish fast as you feed your hungry fire. Oak, on the other

GOOD WOOD:

Hard woods such as ash, beech, oak, birch.

I’ve heard my logs have to be ‘dry’ before I burn them, is this true?

Absolutely; burning wet logs is one of the major factors contributing to chimney fires, so it’s vital your wood is properly dried out. If you burn wet logs, they cause a build-up of flammable creosote/tar on the inside of your chimney which could ignite at any time. Serious stuff.

So, how do I store my logs?

Firstly, we recommend that hardwood

trees should have been cut down and logged (cut into logs) and then kept in dry conditions to the season for a minimum of six months, longer if felled in Autumn or Winter. Check with your log supplier and make sure you only buy well dried (seasoned) logs.

Once you’ve got them to your house if you’re keeping them in the garden they should be covered with a waterproof covering (tarpaulin etc) and stacked so that air can circulate around them.

Storing them off the ground, on old pallets or similar, will enable the ones at the bottom of the pile to remain dry.

I’m worried my logs aren’t properly ‘dry’. How do I find out if they are and how do I resolve it if they’re ‘wet’?

For safe burning, logs should have a moisture level of less than 20%; if you have one, a moisture meter is an accurate way to measure this.

If you don’t have a moisture meter, and let’s be honest most of us don’t, simply bring the logs inside and dry them out in a warm room, or around the fire for a few days before use. This will ensure they are as dry as possible. BUT – don’t store them too close to an open fire or wood burner – they are flammable!

So, if I’m making sure my logs are nice and dry presumably, I don’t need to have my chimney swept so often?

No! We generally recommend that you have your chimney swept mid-season

and at the end of the burning season if your fire or wood burner is used regularly throughout the winter (i.e. 4 or more times per week) but this really depends on what is being burnt.

This also applies if coal is being burnt on open fires or multi-fuel stoves.

However, as a minimum, you should have your chimney swept annually as a precaution.

If you would like more information to help you get the most from your fire and fuel, you can visit the Burnright campaign site: www.burnright.co.uk.

Getting it right will save you money, make you safer and significantly reduce unnecessary air pollution.

Garden

JOBS

As spring fast approaches, it becomes important to start preparing our outdoor spaces for summer! A change in weather means that our gardens require different things from us. That’s why we have decided to list our top gardening tips for the month of March to help get our spaces in ship shape for what seems to be a promising summer ahead…

FLOWERS: Its important not to neglect our flowers as this is a very important time of year for many of them. Start by tidying up borders by removing any weeds and trying to minimise any frost damage that may have occurred over winter. Repot any pot-bound plants with fresh compost and prune repeat-flowering roses. Now will also be a good time to feed your trees, shrubs and hedges with a slow-release fertiliser by forking into the soil.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES: Avoid carrot root fly by sowing carrot seeds early this month under cloches or fleece. This is also a good time to sow tomatoes, chillies, sweet peppers and aubergines for indoor pots. Sets of onions and shallots are great to plant this month – remember to keep them 10-15cm apart from one another. A lot of hardy vegetables can be sown this month too, try planting spinach for another great crop.

MARCH MAINTAINENCE - The lawn - make sure to mow and cut edges. This will help you keep on top of it as we roll into the warmer months.

- Protect from slugs. Try sprinkling sharp

- Make sure your compost bin is in god shape for a year of great waste recycling!

- Begin weeding. Its easier to control

- Check tree ties to ensure they are not

- Plant native hedges to increase your

too tight. If they are, loosen them.

garden wildlife.

grit or coffee grounds around the area as a deterrent.

weeds while they are still young.

Mother’s

TREAT YOUR

LIKE QUEEN’S

MOTHER’S DAY SHORTBREAD COOKIES

In case you have forgotten, we are here to remind you that Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and if there was ever a year that your Mum needed some TLC it is this one!

We know some of you may be unable to visit parents right now, but a surprise homemade sweet treat in the post might be just the ticket this year. We have another great recipe from expert baker, Anna Newman, from Sugar Bowl Bakes.

Follow this simple recipe and create some handmade love as a gift this year.

THE INGREDIENTS: For the biscuit mix: - 250g baking butter block for pastry (at room temp) 70g Icing sugar 300g Plain flour 1tsp vanilla extract For the icing: - Fondant icing

If the thought of baking fills you with dread, get in touch with Anna at Sugar Bowl Bakes, and take the drama off your hands! sugarbowlbakes@hotmail.com | 07769948487

THE METHOD: For the shortbread mix: Beat the butter until soft and slowly add in the icing sugar mixing at a slow speed to avoid the sugar flying out of the bowl! Add your vanilla extract and sieve the flour into the mixture and mix again on a slow speed.

Once mixed together as much as you can with the beaters, you will need to get your hand mucky and dive in! Tip the dough out onto a sheet of baking paper and knead the mixture bringing it all together. Wrap the baking paper around the dough and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours.

Pre heat your oven at 160 degrees and take the dough out of the fridge and start kneading until it appears smooth. Using plain flour, dust your work surface and the top of your dough and start to gently roll out your shortbread mix. Roll to the thickness of a £1 coin or slightly thicker, but keep in mind the thicker the cookie the longer it will take to bake.

Now it’s time to use your cookie cutters. Top tip: cut as close to the edge of your dough as possible, this will help you get as many out as possible before having to knead back together and re-roll.

Place each cookie on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Leave the shortbread cookies on the baking tray to cool. If you try to move them to a cooling rack while hot they will break.

For the decorations: To decorate you can use royal icing or rolled out fondant as I have here. If using fondant, the best way to make it stick to the cookies is to add on top while they are still hot out the oven. Alternatively spread a thin later of jam for added flavour.

You can either top with fresh fruit, chocolate pieces or other bits and bobs! If you feeling really fancy you may want to purchase some baking stamps like I have here.

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ShopYOUR OWN A sustainable approach to our fashion choices is a forward. As the wonderful Lara Lauder explained, start in your own wardrobe first.

There are lots of options.

Take time and pick colours that really suit you.

When we stick with set hues that complement our complexion, all the outfits we select are interchangeable. A hat in your cupboard may be just the right colour or need a ‘face lift’ with a new hat band, a beautiful ribbon or a fancy trim.

Integrate and weave in texture, laying and a pop of colour. Explore the possibilities.

Integrate and weave in texture, laying and a pop of colour.

The ‘go too accessory’ is most unexpected. A mask

can be both protection and add to a look. Using colour and style in equal measure, a face covering is a unique look. Using the required three layers of closely woven fabric and a shielding layer suggested by WHO as polypropylene to be a new image is in the making. I add this as a manual layer so I can remove it and Lauder my masks. Cleanliness of these items is also a huge factor as we all know.

‘Additionally, the WHO has released new guidance on cloth masks, recommending that they consist of at least three layers of different materials: an inner layer being an absorbent

material like cotton, a middle layer of non-woven materials such as polypropylene (for the filter) and an outer layer, which is a non absorbent material such as a polyester or a polyester blend.’

From PPE speciation to face visors the shapes are endless.

All accessories have a place in your personal style for both men and women.

Your character and image need to match and harmonise with your true self. If the clothing or accessory do not sit well with you, they will most certainly look awkward!

Choosing a hat comes with the same philosophy. You cannot pull off a hat without inner belief that it works.

Of course, there are different reasons to wear hats. Protection from the weather goes back in time to survival in harsh conditions and work based scenarios. Identity

is key in the work force.

But sports fans like to support their teams too. The last and most popular group are hat lovers themselves.

‘Which hat will suit me?’ is a very common question. Now for an incite that you may find useful. It is not the shape of the hat but how you wear it.

Every hat has to be ‘worked’! Move it from side to side, find the best position. Look at the hat straight on your head, does this look good?

Only one in five people can wear their hat like this. These are the people that we say, all hats just seem to look good on you.

The shape will determine how sleek a form you present in your hat. Does the crown raise you up to look taller? Is there a balance between the crown and the brim?

If you have a stronger physic a wider brim could add drama to your appearance.

There is a fine line to getting this right. It is back to how you feel.

Anyone can carry off a hat if they want to. But their inner personality must be part of the process. When there is a balance and joy in the wearer, a hat can rock.

What is stopping you?

Take a leap into the unknown and try on that hat in the back of you cupboard that has not seen ‘the light of day’ for sometime...

Stay safe and look cool.

Discover more great hat tips at www.thehatchannel.com

AM I ALLOWED TO

cut down trees IN MY OWN GARDEN?

From the majestic oak to the weeping willow, trees are a vital part of life on earth and their presence should be respected however, there are times when a tree needs removing from a garden and it is important that homeowners understand what is and what is not permissible.

AM I ALLOWED TO CUT DOWN A TREE IN MY GARDEN? Yes and no. If your tree has a TPO, (Tree Preservation Order) on it then no (or at least not without applying for a special license.)

As an article on the Woodland Trust blog explains, ‘A TPO is a written order created by a local planning authority such as a borough, district or unitary council or national park. The aim of a TPO is to give protection to trees that provide amenity value to the public. It is a criminal

Similarly, if your property is in a conservation area then the tree is protected and you may not cut it down or do work to it.

offence to cut down, top, lop, uproot, wilfully damage or wilfully destroy a tree protected by

The Woodland Trust explains,

a TPO, or to cause or permit such actions, without the authority’s permission. If the tree in

‘To request permission to perform tree works

your garden can be seen and therefore

you will need to fill in an application form and

enjoyed by the public, it could potentially have

submit it to the local authority. If you live in a

a TPO placed upon it. You can find out if the

Conservation Area, trees in your garden are still

tree has a TPO by contacting the tree officer at

subject to the same rules as trees with TPOs,

your local council.’

despite not necessarily having TPOs placed

specifically on them. Planning permission will override TPOs if it is necessary for a tree with a TPO to be removed for the development to go ahead. It's also important to bear in mind that it is illegal to fell trees during breeding season as it could result in the destruction of nests.

‘If the tree does not have a TPO and is not in a Conservation Area then you do not require permission to fell a tree if it is in your garden.

Outside of gardens, you might require a felling licence from the Forestry Commission.

‘If you are in any doubt about the legalities of undertaking any works to a tree then look at getting in contact with your local council’s tree officer. Failing that, regional officers for the Forestry Commission may also be able to help advise you on the best way forward.’

REASONS TO REMOVE A TREE There are many reasons you may need to remove a tree, it may be growing too close to your house allowing the roots to interfere with the building causing subsidence, it may be diseased or damaged which could lead to it collapsing and doing damage the house or injuring a person, or simply because it is blocking out light.

If the tree is too close to the house, make sure you check your home insurance policy – sometimes removing

a tree can cause heave – when the moisture previously sucked up by the tree is now left to pool and it is safer to leave it. Ash, willow, elm, poplar and oak trees all suck up a great deal of water.

WHO CAN REMOVE THE TREE? A qualified tree surgeon should always be used to remove a tree. You can find a list of Arboricultural Approved Tree Surgeons here: www.trees.org.uk/ARB-Approved-Contractor-Directory

CAN WE CUT TREES ALL YEAR? As trees are home to nesting birds, it is recommended that you do not cut down trees between March and August, which is defined by the RSPCA as prime breeding season, in case there is a nest in the tree. The Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 states that

it is an offence to ‘Intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird’ or ‘Intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built.’ (There are exceptions to this law.)

It is worth noting that penalties that can be imposed for criminal offences in respect of a single bird, nest or egg contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is an unlimited fine, up to six months imprisonment or both.

HOW TO REMOVE THE TREE STUMP? It may be tempting to try to remove the tree stump yourself, however people need to be aware that this isn’t always the easiest, or the cheapest option.

If a large digger is used to pull out the stump, this could well bring the roots

with it, which may end up disturbing the structure of nearby buildings. The homeowner also has the issue of disposing of the unwieldy and heavy tree stump – not all will fit in the back of the car to be dropped at the local tip.

Many is the time a stump grinder has been called in to grind down a stump because the homeowner found themselves unable to dispose it.

When a tree stump is ground out, the roots of the tree are left intact, meaning less risk of damage to the surrounding area. The stump grinder grinds the stump down into fine wood chips, that are left behind to partially refill the hole and provide an organic mulch. This can also be spread around other plants in the area to provide a natural mulch and weed protector.

Ideally a specialist tree-stump removal company such as Stumpbusters should be used to grind down any tree stumps. Operatives work on projects of all sizes, from clearing sites to build new housing estates, to removing individual stumps from the gardens of residential properties. New models of stump grinders can now be carried through a home, meaning rear access to the garden is not always required.

Stumpbusters operatives are fully qualified, trained and insured professionals who hold City & Guilds and CSCS accreditation.

To find your nearest Stumpbusters visit www.stumpbusters.co.uk

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Spring 2021

NATURE EVENTS

Spring is known for being the ultimate lift in spirits – and nothing has changed for this year!

Noticing the little signs of spring is such an amazing, natural mood booster.

After a challenging winter spent indoors; the longer,

brighter days are welcomed eagerly by many of us. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of our favourite signs of spring…

The spring equinox is on the 20th of March this year. The equinox counts as the official start of spring and is where the day and night are almost exactly the same length.

However, many of us see signs of spring before this date and look out for snowdrops, daffodils and other springy wildlife.

SNOWDROPS: The flowers often grow in the UK between January and March and are associated strongly

with the end of winter. So, if you have been seeing these recently, know that warmer days are coming!

DAFFODILS: These beautiful yellow flowers are the most famous natural sign that spring is well and truly under way. Daffodils blossom between February and late April – a staple of spring.

BUMBLEBEES: The warmer weather will soon wake up the bumblebees! Bees need

lots of nectar around this time of year in order to form new colonies, meaning that they should be found in nature-dense areas.

CHERRY BLOSSOMS: Branches of wild cherry and hawthorn trees begin to blossom the most breath-taking baby pink flowers in spring.

Although the blossom is often brief, their beauty has become famous worldwide – especially in Japan.

WILD GARLIC: These are more commonly found in woodland areas.

However, wild garlic can be identified by it’s strong aroma and star-shaped flowers. Be careful not to mistake for look-a-like Lily f the Valley as these are

poisonous to eat but look very similar.

BADGER CUBS: Female badgers (sows) usually give birth around February, meaning the babies tend to emerge around April time.

BLUEBELLS: These flowers in April and May. With two main types growing across Britain. They are generally found in dense woodland areas and often span large sections of the woodland floor.

LADYBIRDS: The ladybird’s bright colours are used to deter predators so that they can prey on aphids as they come out of their dormant, winter state.

There are 26 different species of ladybird in the UK, 14 of which are often easy to find in

common woodland areas.

NEST BUILDING: It is common for us to notice more birdsong as the weather gets warmer through spring.

By April, blackbirds will have completed their nests by collecting grasses and twigs and lining them with moss and mud!

FROGSPAWN: Around March, frogs return to the water to mate and lay eggs. They can be seen at the water’s edge in the form of jelly-like blobs filled with embryonic black dots. Forever popular with children!

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Spring: A LOVELY

REMINDER OF HOW BEAUTIFUL CHANGE CAN TRULY BE.

Life yle MARCH 2021