Spring even earlier
Spring is coming earlier than ever, says a Springwatch survey.
“There are catkins out all around, and, although we’re in the Midlands, the daffodils are almost in bloom,” says Kate Lewthwaite, one of the Woodland Trust’s researchers.
Across the country, 50,000 researchers, part of the Trust’s “Nature’s Calendar” project, have reported sightings of natural events that should be happening far later in the year.
Kate says there have been 100 sightings of frogspawn, and even four of tadpoles.
startlingly early
“Wildlife is responding to our warmer springs, which are happening because of climate change. It’s happening incredibly quickly, and some of them don’t have the resources to adapt.”
Red admiral butterflies have been seen on the wing, as well as bumblebees and wasps.
And birds are beginning to nest.
All of which, Ms Lewthwaite says, is “startling”.
slow recovery
Planting trees, which take up more CO2 over their lifetime than other plants, is an essential part of the climate change response plan.
Other CO2-sink crops require farm intervention at least every three years, where as we can leave a tree to help stabilise the atmoshere for hundreds of years.
But here we hit the problem with the Amazon rain forest clearances. The time it takes for a newly planted seed to reach maturity can sometimes be hundreds of years. During that time, the planet’s ability to fix CO2 and keep the water cycle going is injured.
So remember our local trees with The Tree Council:
- Tree Care Campaign: Trees Matter - Cherish Them
March to September 2008 - launch date Thursday 20th March - Walk in the Woods: Trees Matter - Enjoy Them
Throughout May 2008 - Seed Gathering Season: Trees Matter - Make the Most of Them
23rd September to 23rd October 2008 - National Tree Week: Trees Matter - Plant Them
26th November to 7th December 2008
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