Get ready for three seasons in one month say Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

If ever there was a month that summed up the vagaries of the British weather, it is April. ­— Writes Erin McDaid, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

While officially slap bang in the middle of spring, in my experience April can often convincingly masquerade as both winter and summer.

However, while the weather in April can be somewhat unreliable, Mother Nature never disappoints during what is truly a wonderful month to enjoy wildlife and wild places.

Woodland flowers, such as primroses, that began to bloom in late winter can still be enjoyed in shady spots, but when April showers turn sleety you would be forgiven for thinking it was still winter as you enjoy the flowers’ last hurrah.

Should you happen to be taking a walk in the very same woodland on a bright sunny day, perhaps to admire the early bluebells or to marvel at the sound of warblers that have travelled all the way from Africa to breed ­— you might feel that summer has arrived early.

While there is always a fair chance of a ground frost, warmer days bring rare opportunities to spot reptiles such as lizards and slow worms basking to warm until ready to hunt.

The ever-present prospect of frosty mornings makes it imperative to wrap up warm and pack a flask when heading out to enjoy the delights of the dawn chorus, but warm evenings towards the end of the month might deliver a glimpse of bats hunting insects over your garden.

And while they say that one swallow doesn’t make a summer, the arrival of house martins, swallows and even swifts this month provides a hint that summer is just around the corner.

With so much wildlife on offer this month, it would be a shame to wish the spring away ­— but the sights and sounds of species more typically associated with long summer days are very welcome.

The incrementally lengthening days provide extended opportunities to get out and about to take in all that nature has to offer.

With sunsets pleasingly pushing towards 8pm there is also now time to plan a decent walk after work or to spend precious time pottering in the garden.

With the days noticeably lengthening and warming, April is also great time to plan ahead to ensure that that you can enjoy a garden, yard or even a window box full of flowers ­— providing vital nectar for bees and butterflies ­— all summer long.

The cheapest way to provide extra blooms for pollinators is to raise your own plants from seed. Many can be raised quickly on an indoor windowsill or even be sown outdoors from this month and in just a couple of months they will be providing colour to brighten your day and providing welcome sustenance for beneficial insects such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies.

If you sow a few herbs such as rosemary, thyme and lavender, all of which provide nectar, alongside a selection of ornamental blooms you’ll also have a cheap and plentiful supply of fresh herbs to use in the kitchen too.

A few well-placed statement sunflowers will provide a source of seeds for birds long after bees and other pollinators have exhausted the flowers’ supplies of nectar.

Our nature reserves provide opportunities for everyone to connect with nature on their doorstep. At this time of year wetland sites such as Besthorpe, Idle Valley, Skylarks and Attenborough nature reserves are havens of activity with an array of summer migrants, from willow warblers to lapwings, breeding alongside year-round residents such as mallard and mute swan.