This week we delve into seasons, nature (obvs) and citizen science, so boil that kettle, grab a biscuit and take a few minutes to have a read.

On Feb 26th 2019 the UK broke the record for its warmest winter day with a temperature of 21.2°C in Kew Gardens, London. It’s a far cry from sledging on the Empingham Dam at Rutland Water. Or convincing your father to tie a rope to the Landrover so you can be pulled along in the deep snow.

Nowadays, with temperature fluctuations all over the shop, it’s not just the winters that are a changing but all of the UK’s four seasons are experiencing shifts.

You may think that’s pretty obvious – summer is warm and around July, and winter is cold around December, right? Well, you’re not exactly wrong, but there are in fact multiple ways to define the seasons.
The first two that come to mind are meteorological and astronomical seasons, both have strict start and finish points.

We prefer feel of the air temperature to guide us as a team. It’s a little more hippy dippy and the changes are not so fixed, more of a feeling :). Seasons of the stars are based on the equinoxes and the solstices.

The summer and winter solstices tend to be on or around 21 June and December respectively, and the spring and autumn equinoxes are on or around 21 March and September and they mark the start of the astronomical seasons. You may notice calmer weather or blood red sky’s. Something that stops you in your tracks when outside? Phenology is the third.
Phenology is the reaction of plants and animals to the weather and climate. So this is more when you notice animals go in and out of hibernation, or when the leaves on trees start changing colour and falling to the ground.

This is something we all probably see but don’t really take notice of until we are not able to mow the lawn because its too wet or in Mum’s case the mice start coming indoors to nest a little earlier than last year.

Nature doesn’t really follow our calendar, (so true in these present times) it basically reacts to the weather, as we do as people… if we see it raining outside, we put on a coat and grab an umbrella…simples.

Whether you’re a calendar or a feel person that appreciates nature its often that little connection with the outside that we remember as a child, or the routine daily walk we all started during covid.
What is he waffling on about I hear you say? Well I discovered something that spiked my interest which is why I’m not writing about Christmas. I mean this piece may be a breath of fresh air when it comes out, not being about Christmas? New to me but possibly not to you, its citizen science!

Citizen scientists compare how nature reacts to the weather in different years and people share their information for all kinds of research purposes.

The Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count, which began in 1900, is just one example of a long-standing tradition which has persisted to the present day.

These generous citizen scientists track how seasons have changed over the decades, what stars appear at night, the migration of birds, snow fall, you name it its tracked logged and shared from remote parts of the world.

So what does some of this data show about the seasons? In a nutshell the seasons are blurring’ lots of species’ & events are happening a lot earlier than they used to. On average, six days earlier in fact.

According to the field studies council 3756 sightings of spring were recorded across the UK in 2024. The very first sightings recorded were daffodils near Monmouth in Wales and Hazel catkins in Leatherhead Surrey.

What’s your first sign of spring you notice? For us it’s the light but we are privileged to be outdoors most days. Is it the iris, snow drops or the daffodils?

One of the reasons citizen science fascinates me is as a means for the Children and maybe the whole family to engage in something I did automatically living in the countryside.

Being a little bored, (mega drives had not been invented). I remember listening to crickets in the long grass, building damns (ask for the land owners permission on this one… we learnt that). Bike rides, bees, worm’s, daisy’s and even butterfly’s. All things we took for granted and definitely didn’t think would ever change. Alas things have changed.

If your passionate about some of the things mentioned, birds, skylines or simply want to entertain the children with an outdoor activity that may interrupt the eating of mince pies, quaffing champagne and opening presents. Have a look at the link below for ‘Grow Wild’

Check out https://growwild.kew.org/blog/10-ways-get-involved-citizen-science

Have the most wonderful winter break. From us to you.
Have a Very Merry Christmas and we’ll see you in the New year. www.hayneshorticulture.co.uk