Nature Blog by Jenny Bourne

Following the excellent winter fruit pruning workshop delivered by Harrison at the beginning of February we decided to give the ‘John Downie’ crab apple a light prune, in Crab Apple Corner. A few of the longer branches were shortened by a third and a crossing branch removed.

A spectacularly bright snow moon last Monday ushered in a couple of mornings of deep frosts and mist, following a mild and spring like weekend – two seasons in a week! Last week the honeybees were out drinking water from the bird bath on our plot and flying in and out of the snowdrops. On a warm February/early March day honeybees will fly out for forage.

Last Friday this honey bee was out foraging on our mahonia in comparatively mild temperatures; since then we’ve had nights and mornings of hard frost and there’s not been much sign of pollinator life on the plots.

A very mild start to the New Year so far with even a first butterfly sighting this week, possibly a Red Admiral fluttering vigorously over the plot towards the park wall. And under the old apple tree at the back green shoots appearing, narcissi, snowdrops and hyacinths just peeping through the fallen leaves and plant debris.

Looking back to this time last year it seems that we had very similar weather – mild with a lot of rain: ‘17o forecast for tomorrow’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, in flip flops and shorts…?”