The Signs of Spring Survey is an invitation from the Fields Studies Council and Royal Society of Biology for members of the public to note and record ten specific signs of spring, from frogspawn to catkins, across the breadth of the UK.
A simple enough task? I joined The Bay at their weekly meet in Heysham, Lancashire, to find out, on a cold spring day, ‘why should we do this?’.
Once we had all arrived and had a cuppa, we ventured to a nearby wood to see what we could find.
Hazel catkins (Corylus avellana) - Guy Edwardes/2020VISION
Using binoculars, the first signs we recognised were catkins, at a distance on a tree. Exploring further, I soon began to realise just how much I didn’t know! I learned that tree identification signs, tree shape and buds for example, can vary depending on the time of year, health of the tree, age of the tree and so on.
We regrouped and focussed on listening to birdsong together. The group, run by Alex, the Nature and Wellbeing Officer and supported by his volunteers, has a gentle, calm and unpressured atmosphere. As we slowed down and listened to the birdsong, these qualities took reign and permeated the day.
Annual cycles are a reassuring response to the call from the very heart of the human condition for consistency and reliability. In a world of alarming change at increasing speed, how paradoxical that change should also be a reassuring constant, for example in observing over time new leaves replacing buds on the willow fence created by the group on the shared allotment.
WildNet - Bob Coyle
The Signs of Spring Survey is a simple but clever project which can benefit all ages. It has the potential to connect people to their immediate environment and encourages the act of looking and listening - opening hearts and minds, and on days such as today, connecting people to each other.
I now know my ash from my hazel, bringing a subtle sense of achievement. More widely, the survey provides data for research on climate change by highlighting any changes in the timings of seasonal events and offering insight into their implications for ecological interactions.
Below are some of the signs to look out for as part of the survey.
The survey runs until June 2024. To take part go to: Signs of Spring – Field Studies Council (field-studies-council.org).
To find out more about joining The Bay’s different activities, contact Alex ablomfield@edenproject.com
To self-refer to sessions, please go to:
