Nature and the Seasons: A Delayed Year for Wildlife on the Farm

With the recent prolonged cold spells, nature is evidently trying to catch up as neatly observed by countryside management students studying at Moulton College. The green-woodworking group commented on Monday about the late emergence of spring woodland flowers including bluebells and wild garlic at Hardwick Woods and closer to home today students noted the first chiffchaff recorded on the estate this year. This is generally a spring arrival to the UK and rather unfortunately is termed as one of Britain’s most boring birds to look at! Perhaps this view is slightly unfair, as the small sized olive-brown warbler nimbly darts through the trees looking for food. It is best recognised by its distinctive tail wagging habit. Just out of interest the ‘science of the seasons’ is called phenology, and you can find a link to discover more courtesy of the Woodland Trust here: http://www.naturescalendar.org.uk/research/phenology.htm.