Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust: Signs of spring you can spot this February

The long days of February provide both impetus and extra opportunity to get out and about to appreciate and enjoy the wildlife that is all around us, writes Erin McDaid of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.

While the forecasters might not yet be agreed on whether we are in for an icy blast later this month, one thing we know for sure is that the days are getting noticeably longer, even if this is difficult to notice on the dullest of days

You will almost certainly still need to wrap up against the elements, icy blast or not, but February can be a wonderful time to connect with Mother Nature.

While not considered a true native, with no UK records before the 18th century, snowdrops are widely naturalised in many areas of our county and country and are often the first ‘wild‘ flower of the year to flourish.

They definitely bring an added dash of brightness to dreary days, making snowdrops one to look out for.

Over the border in Yorkshire, it was once customary for village maidens to gather bunches of snowdrops and wear them as a symbol of their purity during the traditional festival of Candlemas - the feast of the Virgin Mary on February 2.

Another relative newcomer to keep an eye out for are spring crocuses. With their delightful pinky-purple petals, bright yellow stamens, and vibrant orange stigmas, crocuses really add a splash of colour.

The stigmas of some varieties are also harvested as the spice saffron, often said to be more valuable by weight than gold. Whatever the current price of saffron, the lift these and other early flowers provide for our souls before spring arrives is worth its weight in gold.

While the Autumn crocus — crocus nudiflorous — is officially the county flower of Nottinghamshire, together with the Spring crocus — crocus vernus — the two varieties are known as the Nottingham Crocus and were once common in Trentside meadows.

These varieties have a local history stretching back centuries, and their presence and prevalence on the banks of the Trent in Nottingham gave rise to the city’s Crocus Street.

The spread of the crocus across the UK is said to have been linked with traditional routes between priories where Cluniac monks grew them for their medicinal and culinary value.

By Victorian times, with increased drainage and development, vast swathes of crocus in Nottingham had dwindled and by 1852, the impending loss of ‘The Meadows’ on the edge of the city to new housing inspired the poet Ann Gilbert to write ‘The Last Dying Speech of the Crocuses’.

Over the years, there have been numerous attempts to boost their number – with recent efforts championed through the Nottingham Crocus Project and local volunteers.

Another early flower to look out is the distinctive creamy yellow blooms of the native primrose. The flowers’ common name is derived from the Latin for 'prima rosa', or 'first rose', relating to its early spring flowering.

So synonymous is the species with early flowering, that it is designated as February’s birth flower. Their pretty flowers can be found in grasslands and meadows and where found in woodland, can be an indicator of a wood’s ancient origin.

These and other early flowers provide a lifeline for insects such as queen bumblebees emerging from their winter torpor to seek out new nest sites.

Another are butterfly species such as the brimstone and peacock, which spend winter as adults in frost free spaces, such as sheds, before making their first forays in search of nectar this month.

As well as looking out for wildlife in your garden, local parks and the wider countryside, why not seek out one of the dozens of nature reserves across the county cared for by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust?

With sites ranging from ancient woodlands little changed since the time of the Domesday Book such as Treswell Wood, to vast wetlands such as Idle Valley Nature Reserve — where we also have a welcoming cafe and shop.

Closer to home, why not check out the lovely Farndon Willow Holt with its remnant wet meadows and unique collection of willow species, or Besthorpe Nature Reserve in the heart of the Trent Vale, nestled between the Trentside villages of Collingham and Besthorpe.

With so many sites across the county, most people live just a few miles from their nearest Trust reserve.