Environment

villagetribune 11 >> The Amblers in Tribland by Anne Lees

As I write this, in early February, signs of new growth are appearing in gardens and the countryside. The weather has been (what we would previously have described as) unseasonable, with temperatures in the low teens on occasion – not very wintry at all – and there have been reports in the media of how much earlier Spring arrives now.

The Amblers have been noticing this too, and revelling in the little gems we discover as we wander in Trib’land. [Incidentally, if you are interested in becoming a ‘citizen scientist’ in this field, go to the Woodland Trust website and sign up to report when plants start to flower on your own land.] The popular saying, ‘March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers’ springs to mind and we eagerly await the scent of blossoms in the hedgerows to add to the other sensual delights we experience when ambling. The birds are beginning to serenade us again as the daylight hours lengthen; nest building has begun; there have been reports of mesmerising Starling murmurations locally; the Whooper swans are back; and we have had stunning sunrises and sunsets to gaze upon. The vernal equinox is approaching, when the length of the day and the night equalises and marks the turning of the year – from then on, the

light starts to win out. Hurrah! If you like to get out and about to make the most of the warmer days, be on the lookout for Redtailed bumble bees – which nest in holes in the ground, or under sheds or walls – and the first butterfly of spring, the elusive yellow Brimstone: although it is our only yellow butterfly, it is almost leaf-shaped and therefore easy to miss in the hedgerows while it feeds on nectar. Flowering cherry trees will soon be in blossom and creating a colourful display ranging from white to deep pink and, along lanes and at roadsides, the steel-black stems of the Blackthorn hedges will be contrasted by its frothy white blossom, adding the hum of insects to the sights and sounds of a sunny day. Did you know that Blackthorn hedges flower before they produce leaves, but with Hawthorn, the leaves come before the flowers? Of course, sunshine brightens any walk, but it is never guaranteed in the UK. The Amblers are a reasonably

hardy bunch and usually go out whatever the weather, but we see no reason to start out on a walk in driving rain, knowing that we will start out wet and gradually get more uncomfortable. However, we have been caught out on more than one occasion by waking up to a downpour on walk day and deciding to give it a miss, only to find two hours later that the sun has reappeared, the sky is blue, and we are (or could have been) good to go! One such occasion was yesterday when, rather than the eighteen in the group I had been expecting – another record number, and cause for celebration – ultimately there were just four of us to enjoy a cool, sunny stroll from John Clare Cottage, Helpston, to nearby Ashton, along part of the Torpel Way (see pictures). I think the moral of this story, should you experience it too, is to be patient and hold out for a change in conditions in time to continue with your original plans. We will be attempting the walk again next week! By the time you read this, we will have celebrated our third anniversary, currently in the planning phase. It needs to be special, owing to last year’s social restrictions which meant reliving the wonderful memories of the first year’s record turnout in Maxey in the company of one friend instead of the group (lovely though that was). I shall let you know how it turns out in the next issue.

In the meantime, other delights you may encounter as the season progresses are toads on the move (especially in the first rainstorm after a dry spell); dead-nettles in flower (both pink and white varieties); Orange-tip butterflies on Garlic Mustard; bluebells and, if you are lucky; cuckoos. Enjoy!

If you feel you would like to join us sometime, text ‘Amblers’ with your message to 07714021131, or PM Anne Lees on Village Tribune’s Facebook page. We look forward to meeting you!