spring growth

[Mrs H]

I have just been for a bijou jogette at the far south of the Malvern hills where i have not been for several months. As I expected it was very beautiful, the wild (Dymock) daffodils just going over - the bluebells not quite yet hurting your eyes to look at them and the garlic just revealing it's white stars.

What really shocked me was the growth of bramble and nettle. There are a couple of grassy terraces by the path where over several years I have occasionally sat (to admire the view you understand!) which had completely disappeared under a thick tangle of very well established brambles. Also along the path the usual impressive display of primroses, violets, lady's bedstraw, anemonies etc were almost swamped by lush young nettle growth.

I had hoped that the relatively severe winter might have done us some favours with regard to brambles and nettles but it doesn't look like it here. I was surprised how wet it was in places. At least the bracken is still well down

Anyone else got any observations from other parts of the country?

[seabird]

Went out on Flasby Fell near Skipton to plot the areas of bracken for an event in 4 weeks time- just in case there is significant growth by then.

Everywhere was very dry underfoot - even the normally boggy bits.

The bracken had been better flattened than in recent years, although not completely broken down, as in the winters of yore. Worryingly the first fresh shoots were clearly showing.

Hoping there will be a prolonged cold snap coming soon.