13 November 2007
Autumn becomes spring: confusion in nature's calendar
This year’s bizarre autumn shows climate change in action across Wales
As trees across the country are coming into full colour, Nature’s Calendar (1) has received sightings from across Wales of plants flowering in autumn.
These quirks of nature include foxgloves flowering in Mid Wales. There have been cowslips flowering in Llandogo in Monmouthshire since the beginning of October, forget-me-not and primula in full bloom in Cardiff, and wild strawberries in Cardiff and Carmarthen.
All of these are traditionally considered to be spring events. The only question is, are they really late or really early?
Dr Kate Lewthwaite from the Woodland Trust explains: “Autumn seems to be stretching from summer to Christmas. We’ve had a bumper crop of blackberries as early as July and in many circumstances we’re still waiting for trees to go into full autumn colour which is a week or so away. Nature’s Calendar even has reports of hawthorn showing both autumn leaves and out of season flowers at the same time and elderflowers still blooming in the hedgerows.”
Lewthwaite continues: “Autumn seems to be stretching from summer to Christmas. We’ve had a bumper crop of blackberries as early as July and in many circumstances we’re still waiting for trees to go into full tint. Nature’s Calendar even has reports of hawthorn showing both autumn leaves and out of season flowers at the same time and elderflowers still blooming in the hedgerows."
Autumn is nature’s way of treating us to one last burst of colour before the winter cold sets in. Trees across the UK are now going into full colour creating displays of wonderful yellow, gold and red shimmering leaves for all ‘leaf peepers’ to see. People all across the world in Japan and the USA flock to see the spectacle, and we’ve got our own on our doorstep.
While you are out ‘leaf peeping’ you could help take part in the Nature’s Calendar project run by the Woodland Trust. The project - the world’s leading study into phenology (3) - researches how climate change is affecting our seasons and wildlife by analysing data collected from thousands of volunteers across the UK.
To see these wonderful oddities of nature or if you’d just like to go and enjoy striking autumn colour where you live, or to become a nature recorder visit www.naturescalendar.org.uk and follow the autumn woods link to find a wood near you. Get out now before we’re all sweeping up those leaves ready for winter.
For media enquiries contact:
Rory Francis (Publicity and Public Affairs Officer for Wales) on 01766 832563 or 07760 171174 Afallon, Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3RH Email roryfrancis@woodland-trust.org.uk
Or The Woodland Trust Press Office email media@woodland-trust.org.uk or Tel 01476 581121
Editor’s Notes
1. Nature’s Calendar/ UK Phenology Network: The UK Phenology Network is the result of a partnership between The Woodland Trust and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. It now has more than 40,000 registered recorders observing the signs of the changing seasons across the UK.
2. A photo of a foxglove blooming, with a recent copy of the Shropshire Star, is attached
3. Phenology: is the study of the timing of natural seasonal events, especially in relation to climate. The timing of natural events is sometimes known as ‘Nature’s calendar’
Coed Cadw (The Woodland Trust)
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 250,000 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 awareness 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). These include over 100 sites in Wales, with a total area of 1,580 hectares (3,900 acres). It offers free public access to nearly all of its sites. Further news can be accessed via www.coed-cadw.org.uk The Trust adopted its Welsh language name in 2000: “Coed Cadw”. This is an old Welsh term, used in medieval laws to describe protected or preserved woodland.
