The race is on

            Warming temperatures and lengthening days have kick-started the woodland greening. It has been a pretty mild Winter so far which is bringing forward the very first signs of Spring. Many of the earliest plants are in a race to get to flower and then set seed before the tree canopies above them close in and deny them of light. And so it is in Crow Wood. There is barely a bud on the Chestnut and Oak trees as yet but plenty of signs of new life pushing through the soil...the first shoots. Primroses, Bluebells, Snowdrops and Wood Sorrel are some of those early risers, all having evolved to get growing quickly after weeks of winter dormancy, as light levels increase. Birds are getting active as well with Blue and Great Tits investigating nest sites. Many species will have already established territories and a small number like the Tawny Owl in our nest box may well have laid their first eggs.

 The first Snowdrops are pushing through

 Lords and Ladies, not quite regal yet

       Wood Sorrel with its delicate clover like leaves, The plant is an indicator of ancient woodland

         It will not be for several months before they are at their best but Bluebells are on the move

 Hazel Catkins

  New Primrose leaves

 another early plant this is Snowflake, Leucojum vernum

 The stunning first leaves of Early Purple Orchids with their tropical looking colours

This is the start of a period of rapid change. Even if the weather were to get significantly more wintry in the next few weeks, as well it might, it will not stop the greening of Crow Wood.