Calling all nature explorers! Spring has almost sprung - birds are chirping, the trees are starting to bud, and the sun has been hanging around a little bit longer. Whilst we’ve enjoyed Winter, the cosy evening and the frosty mornings, we can't wait for this next season! So, we've been looking outside at all the fascinating changes that happen when Spring comes…read on to discover some of our favourites!

From flora to fauna, insects to pond life, join us as we take a closer look at what's buzzing, blooming, and hopping around during this magical time of year and explore why Spring is the best season to see wildlife!

But first... when does Spring start? 

In order to know when to look out for Spring wildlife, we should know when Spring begins! And in the UK, the season technically has two start dates. The first is the meteorological start date; this is the date given by weather scientists who split the year evenly into four quarters. Meteorologically, Spring starts from 1st March and ends on 31^st May. The second date is the Astronomical season, beginning when daylight and night hours become equal; this is known as the Spring equinox and starts this year on the 20^th March.

Regardless of dates, the signs of Spring will start to appear with brighter evenings and warmer days, and you're sure to start spotting things from March onwards!

Flowers:

First up, flowers! One of the first signs of Spring is the flora that it brings. As the weather warms up, buds start to appear, and fresh leaves unfurl on trees. It’s no secret that we love colour here at eatsleepdoodle, and Spring brings a gorgeous rainbow of petals as different flowers start to bloom.

Here are our favourite Spring flowers to look out for as we enter this sunny season:

Bluebells:

Another iconic flower you may see in March is the bluebell - though these are much rarer than daffodils! You'll most likely come across bluebells on woodland floors, and occasionally in hedgerows. Keep an eye out for their unmistakable bell-shaped flowers in their signature deep-violet colour.

Fun fact: there is lots of folklore about bluebells with many tales involving dark fairy magic. It is also supposed that if you turn a bluebell flower inside out without tearing it, you will win the one you love!

Daffodils:

A familiar sight in parks, gardens, and along streets in the UK, you're sure to see the bright yellow heads of daffodils in March!

Fun fact: did you know that there are 36 different species of daffodil with over 26,000 different varieties in all different shapes and sizes? Plus, these range from white and pastel yellow to bright yellow, orange and even pink in colour! Why not bring a notebook with you when you’re out and about to write all the different types of daffodil you can spot!

Cherry blossom:

Though associated with early Spring, these iconic blossoms actually come about later on in the season, in late April. You can find cherry blossoms all over the UK, most commonly in gardens and parks. Look out for clusters of sweet-smelling pink blooms, with petals ranging from white to varying shades of pink!

Fun fact: cherry trees belong to a group of over 430 trees…wow! This includes stone fruits and others like plums and peaches, and even almonds, too.  

 

Animals:

Spring provides a wake-up call for many of our native animals in the UK and is a time of increased activity for others. Read on to learn more about some of the wildlife that is waking up from hibernation or that can be seen more often as we transition into Spring!  

Hedgehogs:

After a long hibernation over Winter, hedgehogs will begin to wake up and emerge from their nesting sites in March. As nocturnal creatures, hedgehogs are most active at night as they search for food after their long Winter sleep, so keep your eyes peeled in the evenings if you're hoping to spot one! Hedgehogs can be found in gardens and favour hedges with leaf litter and logs to make home - take a look at this guide to making your garden hedgehog friendly to help them in their travels

Fun fact: did you know that there are 17 different species of hedgehog? And that they aren't exclusive to the UK? In fact, hedgehogs are quite widespread and can be found across Europe, Asia, and Africa too!

Badgers:

Badgers do not hibernate but do spend much of Winter underground. Female badgers, called sows, give birth in February and raise their offspring underground in tunnels known as ‘setts’. Then, in mid to late April, these baby badgers become big enough to venture about ground into the outside world!

You can spot these playful cubs in gardens, woodlands, and green spaces across the UK. However, like hedgehogs, these creatures favour the night, so you usually have to wait for the sun to go down in order to spot one. If you're lucky, you may catch a glimpse of badger cubs playing as their mothers sniff the ground and hunt for their favourite food - earthworms!

Fun fact: known for their impressive digging abilities, badgers are very appropriately named! The name 'badger' comes from the word 'bêcheur' which translates literally to 'digger' in French.

Migrating birds:

As Spring comes, you may notice you have a new alarm clock - bird song! With the warmer weather comes the return of migrant birds coming back to live in the UK from other parts of the world.

Look out for swallows as they arrive in the UK after their Winter in South Africa. These impressive birds fly over 10,000km flight from the southern tip of Africa, across the Savannah and Saharan desert, all the way back to the UK! And there’s no time to rest - once they've landed, the swallows immediately get to work gathering materials and building their nests. Here's a handy guide for spotting these impressive birds!

You can also look out for birds like house martins or cuckoos as they finish their travels, alongside resident birds, such as robins and great tits, that have been here all Winter!

Fun fact: songbirds in the same species can have accents and dialects depending on where they live! And they're not just singing for fun – they're looking for love too. Spring is when birds build cosy nests and get ready to welcome their fluffy little chicks into the world.

 

Insects and Pond Life:

As flowers bloom and ponds defrost, insects and pond life begin to thrive! Here are some critters you can expect to see more of in Spring...

Butterflies:

One of nature's coolest makeovers occurs during Spring – the butterfly transformation! After munching their way through leaves, caterpillars form cosy cocoons and turn into beautiful butterflies in a process called metamorphosis.

You can spot one of the UK's most common butterflies, the Red Admiral, in Spring. Whilst some migrate from southern Europe and North Africa, others opt to stay in the UK over Winter. They can be found in gardens, countryside, and on wildflower-rich stretches of coastline and are easily identified by their jet black and orange-red stripes.

Fun fact: did you know that butterflies taste with their feet? These taste receptors on their feet help butterflies to find plants and locate their favourite food!

Bumblebees:

In March, queen bees that survived through Winter begin to emerge from their underground nests. With flowers blossoming, they begin their hunt for pollen and nectar before searching for a new nest site.

Bumblebees can be found in hedgerows and gardens as they search for food and can be distinguished from other species by the signature fluffy appearance! You can increase your chances of spotting bumblebees by planting some of their favourite flowers. Take a look at these handy ideas on making your garden more bee friendly.

Fun fact: bumblebees can beat their wings up to 200 times a second!

Frogs:

One of the most familiar sights of Spring is the jelly like frogspawn that appears in ponds. From February onwards, frogspawn of common frogs can be found just below the surface of ponds and other shallow, still water across the UK. From March onwards, you can expect to see tailed juvenile tadpoles swimming in ponds which will soon transform into frogs!

Fun fact: there is evidence that suggest frogs have roamed the Earth for more than 200 million years – that’s as long as the dinosaurs!

So, grab your binoculars and put on your explorer hat – it's time to discover the wonders of Spring in the UK! From colourful flowers to hopping frogs, dancing butterflies and singing birds, there's so much to see and explore. Pop on your wellies, get outside, take a deep breath of fresh air, and set off on a Springtime adventure.

And just before you go, we want to share with you our top picks for Spring! Great for March and April birthdays, alternative Easter gifts, half term activities and fun new ways to keep the kids entertained. Our range of colour-in butterfly gifts feature some of the world’s most fascinating butterflies to colour in and discover in a variety of different products such as our butterfly pillowcase or crossbody bag.

Or, if you're looking for a fun nature themed activity for the whole family, why not take a look at our nature & wildlife tablecloth! This fun and educational colour in table cover is teeming with Spring wildlife, fascinating frogs, fish, butterflies, birds and more.

And for food and plant lovers, shop our garden, grow, eat placemat to go and forage through the fruits and vegetables of Spring. The perfect gift for foodie kids and complete with a mini tote bag for on the go fun!

Thanks for joining us on our Spring trail! Don’t forget you can get in touch with us on social media by using #eatsleepdoodle – we always love to see what you’re up to! You can also tag us on Instagram (@eatsleepdoodle_), Facebook (@eatsleepdoodlehq) and Twitter (@eatsleepdoodle_).