The editorial feature ‘ Nature’s Calendar’ in White Admiral 51, Spring 2002, stressed the value of recording the dates of recurring natural phenomena, for example when blackthorn begins to bloom, the first swallows arrive, or the first flowering of ivy. Such observations are important as they can be used to show how climate change is affecting our wildlife.
In the UK, recording spring and autumn events in nature’s calendar is growing apace. At the time of writing (13 Jan 03), over 18,000 people are participating in the national recording scheme (UK Phenology Network) that collects and analyses the ‘calendar’ data.
This spring (2003), the UK Phenology Network (UKPN) is joining forces with the National Pollen Research Unit (NPRU) and has added oak, birch and timothy grass first flowering to the recording sheet. 36% of the UK population suffers from hay fever, and unfortunately for them the hay fever season is starting earlier and ending later. Grasses and trees are producing pollen as early as March and many are flowering much later than they did 30 years ago. Last year (2002), the pollen season was exceptionally long. UKPN spring records for oak, birch and timothy grass will provide valuable information, which will help the NPRU with its forecasting of the start and length of the hay fever season.
Recent research on climate change (Nature: Jan. 03) has demonstrated that spring is arriving five days earlier each decade. A study of 1400 plants and animals from around the world found that mammals are emerging from hibernation earlier than usual, birds are being lured into early nesting and egg laying, and plants are blooming prematurely.
At present, in this part of the world, nature is being fooled by the weather, which despite the recent overnight frosts has been relatively mild. Birds are starting to nest, * celandines, red campion, wild primroses and violets are in flower (and have been since before Christmas) and even caterpillars have emerged. Six Large White larvae were observed today (13 Jan) feeding on broccoli at Bentley Manor (Peter Thompson).**
Recording such events is great fun and something the whole family can join in. In addition, by sending your records to the UKPN you will be contributing to over 300 years of observations and helping scientists and conservationists to understand the impact of climate change on our flora and fauna.
Send now for a free combined spring and autumn guide to recording Nature’s Calendar by contacting: UK Phenology Network, The Woodland Trust, Autumn Park, Grantham, Lincs. NG31 6LL.
Tel: 0800 026 9650. E-mail: phenology@woodland-trust.org.uk or log on to www.phenology.org.uk
· If you have made records over many years, these are particularly useful. Recently, two sisters sent in 86 years of records for one address. An amazing set of records kept by Richard Fitter for 350 species over 48 years has also been added to the database.
· Autumn records are especially valuable as the Network has so few.
*In Surrey and Oxfordshire, robins and blackbirds were nesting as early as mid-December, according to reports received at the British Trust for Ornithology.
**Three of the larvae were observed feeding on the same broccoli plant on 23 January.
Colin Hawes, Bentley
Useful web sites for information on climate change and/or species:
www.metoffice.com/research/hadleycentre
www.butterfly-conservation.org
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