Signs of Spring

 

Willow (top), Hazel (top upper right) and alder (bottom) catkins

At last some sunnier days and the seasons’ turn. At the reserve the snowdrop and crocus blooms came early and are already over. The alder is shedding catkins, which have done their job, and at the edge near the field, yellow hazel catkins have developed into long ‘lambs’ tails’. The willow’s are a bit later, but some are already evident.

Male willow catkin (East end of Reserve)

Most willow species, including the ones at the pond (the larger trees which are most likely a variety of crack willow, the golden corkscrew willow and the smaller pollarded osiers) are dioecious, ie a tree is either male (with yellow, pollen-laden catkins) or female (with long, greenish catkins that develop cotton-like fluff containing seeds after pollination).

Lesser celandine and bright-spotted ground-bug

Along by the canal lesser celandine glints gold in the sunshine and occasionally the scent of wild garlic wafts over.

Frogspawn (and frog) near the stage

Frogspawn has just been laid at the edge of the pond near the stage and one or two newts are beginning to stir in the water and enjoy the food fest.

Golden corkscrew willow shoots (left) and
the floor of the orchard greening up (right)

The wild flowers in the orchard are also showing growth. All being well the cowslip and foxglove seed sown in autumn and the cornfield mix sown this week will soon germinate, though the best display must wait until next year.

Listen out for the louder bird song as they seek out mates and establish their territory; look out too for the early bees, hoverflies, butterflies etc.