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Butterflies Peacock Comma Red Admiral Some British butterflies hibernate over winter in their adult form. These include the Peacock, Comma, Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell. They are usually the first to be seen out in early spring, especially on a warm day. They will find a sheltered spot such as a garden shed or a crevice in an old tree or log pile. Other species may over-winter as eggs, caterpillars or in a chrysalis. Some species migrate to Britain for summer. The Painted Lady comes all the way from North Africa. The population starts to move north from January, breeding and dying as it goes. They can reach the UK as early as February but the majority will arrive in June. The last generation will return south to Africa in August and September. In recent years species such as the Painted Lady have survived the winter here too. This could be due to climate change.
Arriving in Spring… Swallow Cuckoo Whitethroat Common Tern Blackcap Our UK bird population changes throughout the year. Some birds will visit us for the winter then go elsewhere to breed. Others visit for the summer, breed here, then leave in autumn. This means spring is a very busy time with arrivals and departures taking place all the time. Winter visitors such as Fieldfares and Redwings will be leaving us until next winter. Summer visitors, including swifts, swallows, warblers and even birds of prey, such as Ospreys will be returning. They will have spent the winter in warmer places like Africa and the Mediterranean.
Spring Nettles Peacock Butterfly The stinging nettle is one of the most important native plants for wildlife in the UK. The nettle supports over 40 species of insect including some of our most colourful butterflies. The caterpillars of the Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies feed in large groups hidden in silken tents at the top of the nettle stems. Many nettle patches hold overwintering aphids which swarm around the fresh spring growth and provide an early food source for ladybirds coming out of hibernation. These same aphids are eaten in large numbers by blue tits and other woodland birds agile enough to dart around the stems. Nettles are not just for wildlife. Their abundance and ease of identification makes them an excellent wild food for beginner foragers. They are surprisingly tasty and incredibly versatile. They can be used in soups and salads, or to make rope! Small Tortoiseshell Caterpillars
Cuckoo Cuckoo-spit is the name of the white, frothy substance found on certain plants during the spring and early summer. It is produced by the froghopper, an insect related to aphids. The name is said to have derived from the arrival of the froth, which coincided with the first call of the cuckoo in spring. There are also references to superstitions about spitting, whenever a cuckoo is heard, to avoid bad luck. Cuckoo-spit was an important ingredient in witches' brew (as in Macbeth) and in Scandinavian countries it is known as 'witches' spit'. For many people, hearing a cuckoo is a sign that spring is finally here. These mysterious birds are seldom seen but most people can recognise the call that gives them their name. They spend the winter in Africa and return to Britain in spring where they will lay an egg in the nest of a smaller bird. The chick hatches early and pushes the other eggs out. The unwilling surrogate can’t resist the urge to feed the begging chick and will raise it as its own.
Spring Creatures ‘Common’ lizards are not as common as they used to be in the UK. For this reason, naturalists are now using their more formal name – Viviparous lizard. This name refers to the fact that they give birth to live young. Although in warmer climates they will lay eggs instead. They have a huge range and live farther north than any other reptile. They hibernate from October to March, often in groups. They like to bask in the first spring sunshine and hunt for small invertebrates. There are 24 different species of bumblebee in the UK. Look out for the first bumblebees on warm days in March. These will be queens that have survived the winter and are now seeking suitable sites for new colonies. A popular place to start a new colony is in an old mouse hole, under a large stone or under the wooden floor of a garden shed or other building. Bumblebees do not live in large colonies - the nest is usually little bigger than half a grapefruit.
Spring The Chiff Chaff is usually one of the first summer visitors to arrive in Britain. Most of them have spent the winter in the Mediterranean, although a few will stay here all year. From late March listen out for their distinctive song which gives them their name. They are often easier to hear than to see as they are tiny and very well camouflaged amongst the trees and undergrowth. On Willow trees, catkins are produced early in the spring, often before the new leaves appear. Catkins are a cluster of flowers, the reproductive organs of plants. One Willow will have all male or all female flowers. Pollen is transferred from male to female by the wind and also by insects such as bees, foraging for pollen and nectar.
Wildflowers Lesser Celandine Wood Anemone Ramsons (Wild Garlic) As winter gives way to spring, the first wildflowers begin to brighten up the Downs Link. You may already have seen Snowdrops, Daffodils and Primroses. As the weather warms up, Wood Anemones and Lesser Celandines start to appear beneath the trees. From April, Ramsons begin to carpet the woodland floor, filling the air with their pungent garlic scent. All parts of Ramsons are edible. The leaves, bulbs and flowers can be used in many well known recipes in place of garlic or basil. Cows that have fed on Ramsons produce milk that tastes slightly of garlic. Butter made from this milk used to be very popular in 19th century Switzerland.
The Dawn Chorus Many birds have been preparing for the breeding season since January, but from March to July the long daylight hours and abundant food trigger a rush of activity. Male birds will sing at dawn and dusk to attract a mate. The still and quiet air helps the sound to travel and the low light helps to conceal them from predators. Small birds that feed on insects (such as wrens and blue tits) will get up a little later as they are more vulnerable to the cold and their food is not around until it warms up a bit. The earliest birds are usually larks, robins, thrushes and blackbirds. These species will feed on worms
Spring Plants The name Primrose derives from the Latin prima rosa meaning 'first rose' of the year (although it is not actually a rose). April 19th is 'Primrose day‘. The anniversary of the death of the former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (who died on April 19th 1891). They were his favourite flower and Queen Victoria often sent him bunches. Primroses are laid at Disraeli's statue by Westminster Abbey on this date every year. Hazel catkins are often one of the first signs of spring. The long dangling catkins shown above are the male flowers, which open in February. The female flowers are tiny red tufts, growing out of what look like swollen buds. They are visible on the same branches as the male catkins. However, pollination can only occur when the wind blows pollen from a male flower to a female flower on a different tree.
