2021 Spring Nature Event

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!