Lockdown Spring Watch

We have finally exited the gloomy months of January and February, entering the fresh smells and blossoming daffodils of the hopeful month of March. The average amount of walking that a human being does has increased by scary amounts over the past few months (poor dogs, they only need one or two walks a day). So why not try out this little challenge. On your next wander, look out for these ten signs of spring. Use your eyes, your ears and your nose to see how many you can tick off! If you don’t recognise one of them, pop it into Google or ask Alexa. Warning: some are largely easier than others…!

Snow drops/bluebells

Catkins

Cuckoo (listen to this bir d’s song so you can identify it on your walk)

Swallows (they spend their winters in South Africa and return to the UK in the spring)

Lambs (so cute)

Primroses, or in Latin, Primula vulgaris

Newts (thr ee native newt species will have spent the winter tucked away in hibernation. Come spring, their main focus is to mate and lay their eggs in ponds!)

A buzz in the air... The air will start to fill with the happy hum of emerging queen bumblebees. Listen closely but WARNING: do not disturb!

Swift – Usually the last of our summer bird visitors to arrive, reaching our shores from the skies over the Congo Rainforest during the first week of May. But quick! They don’t hang around long!