New signs of climate change emerging from leading phenological survey
It’s official! Spring is the new summer, as records of hawthorn flowering and swifts returning come streaming into the Springwatch survey.
Everyone has noticed that it’s a bit hot for this time of year with people sunbathing in April, but the UK’s leading survey into the changing seasons – The Springwatch Survey run by the Woodland Trust and the BBC- has discovered something much more peculiar.
Two traditionally regarded events of nature to signify that summer has arrived are the hawthorn flowering and the return of migrating swifts. So, as April becomes the new May, the question on everyone’s lips at the UK’s foremost woodland conservation charity the Woodland Trust is, what’s going on?
Dr Kate Lewthwaite of the Woodland Trust comments: “One of the most famous vernacular names for the hawthorn is the May-tree and culturally and historically it is seen as signifying the start of summer, but thanks to the exceptionally mild start to the year we are experiencing, this summer signal is arriving three weeks earlier than the 11 May average.”
Hawthorn has much mysticism surrounding it and according to Celtic mythology, hawthorn is the most likely plant to be inhabited by fairies. If a twig of hawthorn is tied together with red thread with twigs from an oak and ash, it will provide protection from fairies. One folk custom was to tie ribbons or rags onto hawthorn trees on May Day as gifts to the fairies.
Hawthorn used to be called ‘Bread and Cheese’ due to the young leaves being added to sandwiches by country folk. Many rituals are associated with hawthorn. In pagan times, the king and queen of May were killed at the end of the tree's growing season and during May Day festivities the flowers were used in garlands and branches were cut, set in the ground outside houses and decorated with loads of wildflowers.
During the country custom of "going a-Maying" branches would be cut to adorn doorways - although hawthorn is rarely flowering on 1 May, it would have been flowering on the old May Day of 13 May prior to 1732. Its purpose was to protect from evil spirits. Hawthorn was also generally gathered on May Day morning, interwoven and placed on doors and windows - the weaving was important because it strengthened the plant's magical powers, as did its covering with overnight dew.
Two famously celebrated hawthorns are the Glastonbury Thorn and the thorn thicket on Goonhilly down.
If hawthorn flowering four weeks earlier isn’t enough of a sign of climate change, then sightings of the first swifts seen flying across the south east and Gloucestershire over the past few days certainly are. Swifts usually return from migration around 10 May when temperatures are slightly milder.
Dr Lewthwaite gives an insight into why these events are so early: “The timing of the seasons is changing length and complexity, with the mild winter and warm spring contributing to warmer than average temperatures. It is an example of how climate change is affecting our wildlife and seasons.”
It has been confirmed by experts at the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity that the sightings of hawthorn flowering are accurate and have been verified. If you would like to get involved in recording your sightings of the ‘Springwatch six’ visit the Springwatch website at www.bbc.co.uk/springwatch or to get involved further in the worlds largest scientific network of recorders visit www.naturescalender.org.uk
Notes to editors:
For media enquiries contact: The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, e-mail media@woodland-trust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust: The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s understanding and enjoyment of woodland. Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free. Further news can be found at www.woodland-trust.org.uk
Hawthorn and Swifts are the most commonly mistaken species. In order to give a helping hand in recording accurate sightings here’s a help with the identification:
Hawthorn
Scientific name: Crataegus monogyna
• Deciduous thorny shrub
• Grey, fissured bark on a knotted, twisted trunk
• Toothed leaves that appear before a mass of wonderful scented blossom (flowers) unlike blackthorn which when in flower has no leaves
• The deeply lobed leaves turn orange and dark-red in autumn
• Fruits ripen to red berries, which are called "haws"
Where to find them
Hawthorn is very common in hedges, scrub and woodland.
When to look for them
You can help scientists monitor the effect of climate change on this species by telling us the dates when its buds burst, fruits ripen and leaves appear, tint and fall off where you live.
• First leaves from March to April
• Flowers from May to June (April 9 this year)
• Ripe fruit from October to November
• Leaves drop in November
Swift
Scientific name: Apus apus
• Dark all over
• Pale throats
• Narrow, scythe-shaped wings
• Look for groups of screaming birds dashing between buildings, or almost invisible high specks swooping after insects in the dusk
Where to find them
Low over meadows or high over buildings. They nest in cracks in masonry or on rafters. Except when on nest, they spend their whole lives, even sleeping, on the wing (whilst flying).
When to look for them
From now, A summer visitor usually arriving in late April/May time. Leaving from late July/August onwards.
