Nature Blog by Jenny Bourne

March came in like a soggy lion and went out like one! A very wet, dull and generally cold month but now the Spring Equinox is past, clocks have gone forward, we’re enjoying lighter, later evenings and I’m hoping for a brighter, warmer April!

Another week of cold days, cloud, wind and rain with the occasional milder day to remind us that better days are ahead; March, coming in like a lion, hopefully going out like a lamb.

Frogspawn! Only one clump on Saturday 4 March, but a good sign of spring in this prevernal season of cold, dull and raw weather; even light sleet this morning! We’ve covered the frogspawn to protect from potential pond freeze over, although we’re not due the extreme drops in temperatures endured earlier this year. Last year the frogspawn arrived on 5 March, so close to this year!

Following the excellent winter fruit pruning workshop delivered by Harrison at the beginning of February we decided to give the ‘John Downie’ crab apple a light prune, in Crab Apple Corner. A few of the longer branches were shortened by a third and a crossing branch removed.

A spectacularly bright snow moon last Monday ushered in a couple of mornings of deep frosts and mist, following a mild and spring like weekend – two seasons in a week! Last week the honeybees were out drinking water from the bird bath on our plot and flying in and out of the snowdrops. On a warm February/early March day honeybees will fly out for forage.