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British Nature

Welcome to British Nature

Welcome to the new and improved British Nature website. We have been working hard on upgrading the site to include several new sections. You can now become a member of the site for free (if you would like to become a member, please click here). We currently have 116 members and would love to have more, so please sign-up and join-in.

Spring

Spring officially arrives toward the end of March (the vernal equinox is on or around the 21st). Wildflowers are blooming and trees and bushes have fresh buds, leaves and blossom - adding some much missed colour back to our countryside. Keep an eye out for flowering primroses and magnificent carpets of Bluebells in woody areas and "Mad March Hares" chasing and boxing each other in fields. Walking by rivers and lakes will allow you to watch newly hatched ducklings, goslings and signets being led around by their parents.

Our Amphibians have been busy breeding and spawning in ponds and lakes so look for spawn, tadpoles and little froglets, toadlets and newtlets (watch you don't step on them!) Some of our overwintering butterflies will be emerging from hibernation (Brimstones, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells, Red Admirals and Large Whites).

Amphibians and Butterflies (click for more details)

Common Frog
Common Toad
Smooth Newt
Brimstone
Peacock
Small Tortoiseshell
Red Admiral
Large White

Birds are in full breeding plumage and are looking very clean and bright. It's a lot fun to sit, watch and listen to their many and varied mating calls and rituals - chasing each other around and generally becoming very territorial. If you have a nest box in your garden, then you may have noticed birds checking them out and even carrying mouthfuls of nesting material to them.

On a serious note, it's best not to feed birds whole peanuts from now until about November time. Some people believe that inexperienced birds may try to feed these to their young and inadvertently choke them to death. There has been some debate on this issue with some people stating that birds are more intelligent than that. Personally, we think it is better to be safe than sorry and only give them crushed peanuts (done by rocking a rolling pin over them!) It is OK to put whole peanuts in feeders that birds can only peck pieces off.

Spring related Spotting Sheets (click for the full, printable PDF versions)

Herptiles
Meadow Wildflowers
Woodland Wildflowers
Waterside Wildflowers

	Home Nature Forums Reserves Activities Links About Us
	British Nature
	Welcome to British Nature Welcome to the new and improved British Nature website. We have been working hard on upgrading the site to include several new sections. You can now become a member of the site for free (if you would like to become a member, please click here). We currently have 116 members and would love to have more, so please sign-up and join-in. Spring Spring officially arrives toward the end of March (the vernal equinox is on or around the 21st). Wildflowers are blooming and trees and bushes have fresh buds, leaves and blossom - adding some much missed colour back to our countryside. Keep an eye out for flowering primroses and magnificent carpets of Bluebells in woody areas and "Mad March Hares" chasing and boxing each other in fields. Walking by rivers and lakes will allow you to watch newly hatched ducklings, goslings and signets being led around by their parents. Our Amphibians have been busy breeding and spawning in ponds and lakes so look for spawn, tadpoles and little froglets, toadlets and newtlets (watch you don't step on them!) Some of our overwintering butterflies will be emerging from hibernation (Brimstones, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells, Red Admirals and Large Whites). Amphibians and Butterflies (click for more details) Common Frog Common Toad Smooth Newt Brimstone Peacock Small Tortoiseshell Red Admiral Large White Birds are in full breeding plumage and are looking very clean and bright. It's a lot fun to sit, watch and listen to their many and varied mating calls and rituals - chasing each other around and generally becoming very territorial. If you have a nest box in your garden, then you may have noticed birds checking them out and even carrying mouthfuls of nesting material to them. On a serious note, it's best not to feed birds whole peanuts from now until about November time. Some people believe that inexperienced birds may try to feed these to their young and inadvertently choke them to death. There has been some debate on this issue with some people stating that birds are more intelligent than that. Personally, we think it is better to be safe than sorry and only give them crushed peanuts (done by rocking a rolling pin over them!) It is OK to put whole peanuts in feeders that birds can only peck pieces off. Spring related Spotting Sheets (click for the full, printable PDF versions) Herptiles Meadow Wildflowers Woodland Wildflowers Waterside Wildflowers
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