Signs of Spring

One of the great wild sights of the year is when a carpet of bluebells transforms woodlands into a place of magic and wonder. Bluebells are usually at their best in April and early May so make sure you don’t miss them!

Take a woodland walk in the springtime and you might be met by the unmistakable aroma of ramsons (also known as wild garlic) whose lush green leaves sprout in March followed by its star-like white flowers in April. This striking plant will often be found while walking along our wooded river valleys and is a favourite with foragers who like their food wild!

This is a flower you may be less familiar with – they look a little bit like buttercups. In February and March look out for bundles of lesser celandine flowers in our woodlands, hedgerows and, if we’re lucky, our gardens. Their yellow rays turn the ground into galaxies of little suns, a reminder that the promise and warmth of spring and summer are on the way.

Snowdrops can be seen as early as Christmas if there's been a mild winter, crocuses are slightly later making a brief appearance and daffodils join them standing tall in the early sun. 

Birds only spend a few days building nests, to a design that is unique to their species. Keep your eyes peeled throughout late March and April, you may be able to see evidence of this remarkable workmanship taking place around you. You should also notice that the dawn chorus gradually gets louder the further into spring we go. International Dawn Chorus Day is at the start of May when it reaches its peak.