Days are getting longer and the sunshine and warmth have really made us think spring is on the way. The wood is gradually coming back to life. The woodpecker is calling, although it isn’t ‘drumming yet’. The chiffchaffs, which are the first of the summer visitors are here and immediately recognisable by their call, which sounds just like their name.
Sunlight has encouraged the ground vegetation and the woodland floor is looking green with the blade like leaves of the wild garlic and the spear shaped leaves of Wild Arum. Dog’s mercury is in flower along with the bright yellow flowers of the lesser celandine and the white flowers of the wood anemone. The feathery leaves of cow parsley are appearing as well as the bigger and butcher hogweed.