Nature's Calendar Blog
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Why is hawthorn known as the May Tree?
By Fritha West, 11/04/2022
Colloquially known as May or the May tree, hawthorn blossom typically appears at the start of May in England and toward the middle of the month further north. However, climate change is bringing flowering forward, meaning the old English name for hawthorn may no longer be as relevant as it once was.
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Wildlife events to record through April
By Lorienne Whittle, 05/04/2022
Spring is really underway by the time April arrives and it's a busy month for wildlife. There's lots to record on Nature's Calendar as a result - whether it's watching a local tree from budburst, through leafing and flowering, birds nesting in your garden or tadpoles hatching in the pond. Don't forget to look upwards too, as summer visitors will begin arriving from Africa later this month.
Find out a little more about how you can help us track these much awaited seasonal changes.
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Which butterflies come out in early spring?
By Fritha West, 11/03/2022
Butterfly sightings become increasingly common as the weather starts to warm up. Sheltered gardens on sunny days are the ideal place for butterflies to stretch their wings after lying dormant all winter. But which ones are first on the scene?
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The first signs of spring
By Lorienne Whittle, 10/01/2022
Winter Solstice has passed and it's 2022......so far it's been a very mild winter and we're getting the first signs of spring recorded on Nature's Calendar.
The first snowdrop of the season was recorded on 1 January - it's time to start looking! Here are some tips on recording snowdrops and other early spring events. We really appreciate every record added to Nature's Calendar - each one gives us more information on how spring is unfolding across the UK.
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‘From little acorns mighty oaks grow’ - Why we should be worried for our native oak trees
By Lorienne Whittle, 09/11/2021
Have you noticed a lack of acorns this year?
Using your citizen science records, Nature's Calendar tracks the fruit, nut and berry crop for some of our most common, native trees and shrubs.
Find out more about acorn numbers this year, and how this compares to the 'boom' of 2020. What does a lack of acorn mean for our oak trees and what are the wider concern for one of our most loved and iconic trees?
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