Spring is the season when nature bursts back into life in an explosion of sight, sound and colour. What better invitation to get out and explore?
After the long, dark, winter months, spring is literally a breath of fresh air. And as the days get longer, the nights get shorter, and it starts to feel warmer, nature responds in a big way.
Here are four reasons to get out and enjoy the season, so what are you waiting for?
1. Days are longer!!
For those looking forward to shorter nights and longer days, then look no further than 20 March. This is the spring – or vernal – equinox when the Earth’s orbit around the sun results in almost equal lengths of day and night. The spring equinox is the astronomical start to the season, as opposed to 1 March which is the meteorological start.
2. Flowers bloom
There are so many wildflowers that deserve your attention coming into bloom at this time of year – and not just the obvious bluebells later in the season, although they are a spectacle which does have to be seen! Pop into your local woodland and seek out some of the other beautiful wildflowers on display. It’s best to go early in the season before the leaves on the trees close out the light. Make a beeline for yellow celandines, delicate white wood anemones and pungent wild garlic. Classics such as native daffodils and primroses are also instantly recognisable treats.
3. Nature’s confetti fills the air
Blossom is arguably one of most iconic heralds of spring. Dense clusters of blooming flowers, whether on hawthorn, blackthorn or fruiting trees, are short-lived so it’s best to enjoy them before the subtle white and pink petals fall to the earth like nature’s own confetti. We’ve come to associate the spring blossom with ornamental fruit trees such as cherries, but it also includes plums and apples. Blossom is a sign of winter receding and the promise of a harvest to come.
4. Walks delight the senses
Last, but by no means least, take a walk in the countryside either as the sun comes up and starts to warm the air or last thing in the evening as the sun begins to go down. It doesn’t matter where you go, it could be down a winding country lane or into some woodland, just spend a few minutes taking in all the sights, sounds and smells around you as nature springs back to life after its winter slow down. If you should happen to go into the woods, then swathes of white snowdrops, blazes of bluebells or pungent pockets of wild garlic are truly set to delight your senses.
