Snow covers the landscape

I have seen numerous birds singing and foraging through the snow; the Robin, Wren, Blackbird and Pheasant, and also our winter migrants like the Fieldfare and the Redwing. Underground at this time of year Badger cubs are being born. Many mammals have hibernated or moved indoors to keep out of the cold. Not just the mammals hibernate but also a lot of the smaller creatures like the Ladybird beetles and the Centipede. However, not every mammal has gone to ground. Some like the Fox can be heard in the evenings howling trying to attract themselves a mate.

Rabbits leave tell-tale tracks across the snow

Look for signs of other creatures in the snow, rabbits and birds will take advantage of the warmer moments to look for food leaving their footprints. Farmers and landowners can help mammals and birds that venture out during this cold period by not cutting back hedgerows until the end of the month, leaving plenty of time for animals to find the berries. Also, to improve the health of the hedge it is good policy to only cut the hedge every second year where possible. This allows the plants of the hedgerow to flower and berry.

Sheep on the downs endure the cold snap in the low sun

Although the days will slowly become lighter from now on until mid-summer the sun at this time is low in the sky and so only some areas of land thaw out. North facing valleys and hollows will see very little sun and freezing conditions cause problems for wildlife and farmers too. They have to ensure that the livestock in the fields have enough to eat and drink. So farmers have to go out in all weathers to break ice from the water troughs and provide food and saltlicks.

I have noticed this winter that numerous plants are in flower that are not usually in flower at this time of year like the summer to autumn-flowering Hogweed or the spring-flowering Primrose. It seems the climate has confused a number of plants. However, with this very cold spell many of these plants in flower will die off but hopefully will re-flower in their correct season. I have seen my first Snowdrops just breaking through the ground about to flower, which we associate with January.

Winter Heliotrope (Petasites fragrans)

Another plant that does not mind this cold weather is the Winter Heliotrope (Petasites fragrans), which naturally grows happily in the European mountain ranges like the Alps. It is not a native plant but seems to be taking hold in this country. Despite it becoming an invasive weed to many roadside bank and streamside it does give a beautiful smell that resembles almonds.

Green Hellebore (Helleborus viridis)

A much rarer but native plant to the downs is the Green Hellebore (Helleborus viridis), being found in only a few locations. This plant can be found in flower from around the end of January until March.

Next month I will talk about frogs and birds attracted to our gardens.