Wildlife is beginning to come back into our gardens as Spring arrives

After the recent winter weather, there are now signs of more spring-like conditions.

Most of our spring flowers have started to appear and daffodils are looking superb in so many places. The mere presence of these spring flowers gives the countryside a much more pleasing appearance and in turn makes us humans realise that there is much better to come.

On a recent trip to a local garden centre, we noticed there were many buff-tailed bumblebees and honey bees busily nectaring around the plants on display and there have been odd butterflies noticed here and there.

The loud croaking of frogs in ponds especially at night has led to masses of frog spawn which has been noticed in many garden ponds. Were it not for garden ponds, our native common frog would be in dire straits for it is seldom seen in the wild these days.

Blue and great tits have been seen carrying nesting material to their chosen nests or boxes and although they feed continuously in our garden they never adopt any of the five nest boxes all around our gardens.

As the weather warms a little the butterflies and other insect species will begin to become more noticeable as we wander around the countryside.

The cuckoo as always is eagerly awaited for by birders and naturalists alike, more often being heard rather than seen but the mere sound of its call brings delight to most. Its numbers have declined drastically in the last ten years and we are in danger of losing it altogether.

Swallows and house martins have also declined. Many will recall the days when house martins nests appeared under the eaves of many properties.

Any messages or questions to Tony Brown on 07776 433307, email tonybrownrwt@gmail.com