Debbie Bigg of Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust shares five ways to enjoy spring
Spring is here and what a joy that is! New life begins, green shoots are all around us, spring flowers dot the landscape with colour, and birdsong intensifies.
With the days getting longer and the weather getting warmer wildlife’s activity levels are going into overdrive. It’s a wonderful time of year to connect with nature so here are five ideas to get the best out of the season.
Tune in to the dawn chorus
During spring, birdsong ramps up as our feathered friends sing to defend their territories and go about the business of finding a mate. Set your alarm and make a conscious effort to listen to all the different contributors, pull back the curtains and see what songbirds you can spot, or close your eyes and absorb the sounds of nature to calm your mind before your day gets underway. If you’d like to take it a step further, consider booking onto one of Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust’s Dawn Chorus Walks.
Enjoy the longer days
With the dawning of British Summer Time, there’s a new opportunity to elongate our days and take advantage of being able to get outside in the early evenings. How about taking a regular walking route and making time to notice the natural beauty that surrounds you? See how the fresh green leaves are developing on the trees, note the unfurling of flower petals, watch the birds’ activities and see how these things change day-to-day or week-to-week. This type of connection with wildlife is great for wellbeing and is proven to make us happier.
Behold the blossom!
Frothy blossom adorning the trees is a wonderful sight and one that brings about much joy. Grab your camera or your smartphone and head to the Trust’s Tewin Orchard Nature Reserve for a picture-perfect visit. This traditional village orchard has locally distinct fruit varieties and amongst them you might spot Greenfinches, Linnets and Goldfinches, whilst overhead keep your eyes peeled for the majestic Red Kite.
Go batty!
In April our native bats come out of hibernation. Dusk is the best time to watch these fascinating mammals so head out once the sun has set to catch this flighty sight. The Common Pipistrelle is our most common and also our smallest bat. Indeed, it is so small that it would fit into a matchbox but despite it’s size it has a good appetite, easily eating 3,000 insects a night! Take that thought with you as you head out on your bat hunt!!
Go and see the Bluebells
From mid-April, the floors of many of our ancient woodlands become carpeted with Bluebells. Millions of bulbs can exist in just one woodland alone but that doesn’t mean these beautiful, bell-shaped blooms should be viewed with nonchalance. Bluebells are a protected species in the UK under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and we are lucky to have more than half of the world’s population of these wonderful wildflowers. It’s not just humans who love these plants, they provide a much-needed food source for many of our pollinators. Enjoy this wonderful spectacle but please stick to pathways and keep dogs on leads so as not to trample on these delicate plants.
Whichever way you choose to spend spring, enjoy this wonderful season and do so wildly. You can seek out woodland nature reserves to see bluebells, book events to put a spring in your step, find out more about the species mentioned in this article, and discover the many ways that connecting with nature can improve your wellbeing at hertswildlifetrust.org.uk
