Worcs Wildlife Trust

Idon’t know about you but a lockdown in spring, when the sky was blue and the birds were singing, was somehow easier than a lockdown in winter with its dreary grey days and the promise of spring not quite close enough on the horizon. The natural world feels kind of asleep at this time of year but it shouldn’t be too hard to see it waking up – even on our doorsteps. We just need to look for it We came back from our Christmas break to an email from Trust member, Robin Couchman, featuring this beautiful snowdrop, surrounded by glistening snowflakes. Our Twitter and Facebook pages have photos from people across the county who are noticing buds on trees, catkins appearing, hellebores flowering and more snowdrops popping up. Snowdrops are also known as Candelmas bells as they’re often in flower on 2nd February, Candlemas Day, so keep a look out for these snow-white jewels as February takes hold. Not only do snowdrops brighten our days but they’re also an important source of nectar for early insects. On our south coast, the warmer temperatures have meant that colonies of buff-tailed bumblebees have been able to survive UK winters. That’s starting to happen here in Worcestershire and last year I saw my first winter-flying bumblebees in Malvern. Will you be the first to spot them in Bromsgrove? Take a quick picture and let us know if you do. Check your garden or local walk to look for signs of flowering life – crocuses and snowdrops poking their heads above ground, hellebores, winter heathers, mahonias and catkins. While you’re outside, listen for the calls of long-tailed tits. A lack of leaves in the trees makes them easier to spot as they barrel through gardens and hedgerows, finding insects and spiders to feed on as they go (they’re partial to peanuts and fat balls if you’ve got any hanging in your garden). During winter they’ve travelled together in loose family groups and they often gather blue tits, coal tits, great tits and even goldcrests with them on their search for food. There’s plenty of life on our doorsteps if we just take the time to look. If you’ve got a camera, why not start taking photos of what you spot…entries for our popular photo competition are open and, who knows, your wild photo could be the front cover of our 2022 calendar!

Snowdrop – Robin Couchman Long-tailed tits on peanuts – Dave Butler

Crocus – Graham Chetwynd

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Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/worcestershirewildlifetrust Follow us on Twitter @WorcsWT Watch us on YouTube www.youtube.com/c/WorcswildlifetrustUK1 Buff-tailed bumblebee – Tom Marshall