As the winter of 2022-23 comes to a close, we start to sense the awakening of nature after its disappearance over the colder months. One of the first signs of spring is the slow brightening of the days, and no longer driving home or leaving school in the dark. We notice as the cold bitterness gives way to a sense of warmth from the sun’s rays hitting our body, and we are provided comfort in knowing that spring and summer are on their way.
On the 19th of February, I first noticed brimstone butterflies flying through woodland glades and along hedgerows, the sun catching their vibrant green colours. Bees are starting to buzz, big black blobs darting over gardens already – but it makes us question whether this early warm spell has mistakenly hastened their awakening before it was due.
Snowdrops start littering the verges, their drooping white heads nodding in excitement, awaiting the new season yet to come. Purple crocuses start pushing their heads out of the ground, gradually unfurling their petals, to show their yellow secret inside.
Little pink flowers – looking like terrestrial sea-anemones or maybe tiny pineapples – start to poke their little arms out of hazel branches, alongside yellow-green catkins swaying side-to-side on the branches. Isn’t it amazing that the pollen from these catkins pollinate the flowers, which then turn into hazelnuts? The perfect snack for hungry dormice, who are still hibernating, but will awaken soon and be greeted by a feast.
Pink, spotty hellebores start to awaken and their petals are lit up by the sun’s ever-warming gaze – like nature’s own suncatchers. The grass and leaves start to become greener – all of those chlorophyll eager to absorb as much sunlight as possible, after the starvation over winter. Other buds are breaking through their branches, starting to create a leafy, green canopy overhead.
Birds start to sing, enthusiastic to find a mate and create a nest, to ensure success of their offspring this season. The winter migrants are starting to leave, but we are starting to see our overwintering species appear, including blackbirds and blue tits. And we will soon be welcoming back migrant species including the blackcap, chiffchaff and wheatear from abroad.
The spring equinox is due on the 20th of March, when the hours of daylight and darkness become equal – the first official day of spring astronomically. Although, we can already see signs of spring emerging, and meteorologically, spring already began on the 1st of March. Soon, we shall be seeing wood anemone, cuckoo flower and the striking blue-bells adding a stronger variety of colour into the landscape, creating a carpet of joy underfoot. More butterflies including the peacock, small tortoiseshell, small white, comma and red admiral will all be abundant in the skies very soon.
An amazing variety of life, colours, sounds, scents and sensations is coming our way, and I am excited for what wildlife and nature awaits us all later in 2023. What are you looking forward to?