Has Spring Sprung For 2012?

THE Woodland Trust is asking the public to report observations of the effects of the milder winter weather on native trees and flowers across the country. This follows a number of anecdotal reports of flowers blooming and tree buds bursting weeks ahead of schedule.

The conservation charity has already received evidence through its "Nature's Calendar" website of snowdrops and daffodils blooming throughout the UK, as well as silver birch, oak and hazel tree buds bursting. Data recorded by the public will add weight to the Trust's already vast resource of information on how trees and woods play a role in the natural environment.

Spring has arrived early for 2012.

Dr Kate Lewthwaite from the Woodland Trust said: "Our native plants and trees are great indicators of wider changes in the natural world. By recording budburst and flowers blooming, the public can help us determine whether these changes are having a major effect on how Mother Nature functions. Contrary to popular belief, in recent years it has become more commonplace to see daffodils and snowdrops in late December and early January as the climate warms."

Frog spawn... an early burst of activity by our local amphibians.

The Trust is gathering data to assess the arrival of spring in comparison to previous years.  Early flowering species such as snowdrop and lesser celandine are particularly useful in giving an indicator of climactic conditions. The Trust is also looking for evidence of frogspawn to see whether frogs are being fooled into spawning early.  If early spawning was followed by freezing weather it could lead to frozen spawn in ponds up and down the country.

Patrick Cregg, the Trust’s director in Northern Ireland, added: “Here in Northern Ireland observations are currently scarce and we really hope that local people will be encouraged to get recording. You don’t have to be an expert to take part and you can record as many, or indeed as few, sightings as you wish.  With your help, we’ll be able to get a clearer picture of how spring unfolds closer to home.”

The public are asked to find their nearest wood and information on how to record at www.VisitWoods.org.uk  

For further information contact the Woodland Trust press office on 01476 581121 or email chrishickman@woodlandtrust.org.uk or Kaye Coates at the Trust’s Bangor office on 028 9127 5787.

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading charity championing native woods and trees. It has 300,000 members and supporters.

The Trust has three key aims:

• to enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees
• to protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future
• to inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees. Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free. 

Nature’s Calendar - is the result of a partnership between the Woodland Trust and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and has more than 60,000 registered recorders observing the signs of the changing seasons across the UK.

Data stretches back to the 17^th century and is used by scientists to assess the impact of climate change on wildlife in the UK. For information visit www.naturescalendar.org.uk