We reached the spring equinox on 21 March, and the season is in full flow with life beginning to erupt all around us with brighter and longer days.
The word ‘equinox’ comes from the Latin – aequalis (equal) and nox (night). At spring equinox, we have reached the first of only two points in the year when we experience an exact balance of dark and light.
Despite spring officially falling mid-March, it has been surprising to see daffodils and blossom on the trees appearing earlier than expected this year. In some cases, as early as mid- February – early March. Could this be another indication of our changing climate with more frequent mild winters?
Not all trees blossom at the same time. The typical sequence in early spring in the north of England starts in early March with blackthorn which is a hedgerow bush that sprouts small white flowers before the leaves emerge. Blackthorn bushes are a relatively common site in South Leeds, but if you need a few pointers, you can find a collection of bushes bordering the edge of the road on the left-hand side just as you leave behind the Tommy Wass junction and head up Beeston Park Ring Road towards Middleton. Alternatively, there are some outcrops as you head down Beggars Hill from the Holbeck Cemetery side.
Blackthorn bushes are a cornerstone species for biodiversity, and their blossom provides early spring nectar for birds, bees, butterflies and other insects. They also produce sloe berries in late autumn which benefit wildlife and gin lovers alike!
Shortly after the flowering of the blackthorn bushes follows blossom from plum, pear and crab apple trees, culminating in April with the magnificent pink wild cherry blossom. There are plenty of great examples of cherry trees in South Leeds, but a handful of mature trees just off Lady Pit Lane next to Beeston Hill United Free Church burst into a vivid pink blossom at this time of year and in my opinion, are some of the most impressive in our neighbourhood, especially as they provide an oasis of essential pollen and nectar for insects in a densely populated built-up environment.
The first bees that you see in spring are likely to be the large queen bumblebees, as they are the only ones from the colony who survive the winter. They can be seen either gorging on early nectar and pollen or flying low to the ground in a zigzag pattern seeking out a nest site (usually a hole in the ground) where they will raise the next generation.
The buff-tailed bumblebee is usually the first to be seen, followed by the white-tailed bumblebee. The primary difference between these two species is that the buff-tailed have an orange-beige tail while the white-tail has a purely white rear end. Both bees are black in colour with the classic double yellow stripes but the buff-tailed is typically bigger than its counterpart.
This time of year, is also the primary egg laying and spawning season for birds, insects and amphibians. You might see frogspawn in your garden pond or in a patch of water in your local park. Last spring I dug a small pond in my back garden and was delighted to discover that a local frog has visited recently and left a small deposit of frogspawn.
Many birds are busy with twigs in their mouths, building nests and laying clutches of eggs in hedges and trees all around us too. As a result, this is not the time to cut back your hedge or do anything to disturb trees or bushes. You may also consider putting up a bird box.
The signs of new growth and new life are coming to every city park, garden and window box as each day passes so it is hardly surprising then that the symbolism of this time of year has been special for many faith traditions and cultures going back centuries with festivities such as Easter, Ostara, Eid and Nowruz taking place all within a few weeks of each other.
Migrant birds are also beginning to arrive to spend the next 6 months living among us. One of the early visitors, appearing in the north of England in late February and early March is the chiffchaff. They are a dainty little bird that is relatively plain in colour (olive green-brown) however, they are very easily identified by their call which is a distinct, repetitive (and after a while, a little irritating) rhythmic alternation of two notes “chiff” and “chaff” which is how they got their name.
They have migrated all the way from Africa and the Mediterranean to come to the UK to breed and will remain with us until autumn. The call of the chiffchaff is a typical backdrop spring sound and you should be able to hear them in the woods at Middleton Park or in hedges, back gardens and clumps of trees and shrub around South Leeds at this time of year.
Bats and hedgehogs will now also emerge from hibernation in April, triggered by warmer spring temperatures and the increased availability of food. Similarly, it feels like us humans are also waking up and feeling the urge to come out to play.
Last Sunday afternoon, the weather was mild and accommodating and I took a gentle stroll around the perimeter of Cross Flatts Park. There was a simple hum of life returning to this shared space with lots of people out rediscovering the pleasure of being outdoors. Spring then, is not just a change in the weather, it is a collective re-emergence for all of us, plants, insects, animals, birds and humans alike and in the spirit of equinox, may we seek to try and live more equally and in balance with nature and each other.
This post was written by Duncan Wells who lives in Beeston with his family. He has a keen interest in wildlife and volunteers for the RSPB.
Main photo: Blackthorn blossom on Beggars Hill. Credit: Duncan Wells
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Many thanks to Mr Wells for this most interesting article about this time of year , it’s lovely to see the trees beginning to blossom in Beeston and to read about the wildlife that might be about the area , I do put out birdseed in suitable feeders and have plants in my garden that I hope encourages bees and other insects