Well we certainly had some wet and windy weather during February. Luckily between the bad spells there were some sunny days.

Primroses Primula vulgaris

March is here and already a number of flowers are fully out like the Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus filicularia) and Primroses (Primula vulgaris). Frogs and Toads have already started laying spawn in ponds and soon, if you are lucky, you may see the Mad March Hares boxing.

Any farmer that has a conservation headland and is grant aided is prohibited to use insecticides on them from the middle of this month. This ensures that many flowers can bloom and in turn attract numerous insects to pollinate them. It is also a good policy if the farmer can leave winter stubble unploughed until the end of this month as this helps the birds by letting them feed on any left over seeds.

Planting a hedge

March is an important month for hedgerows because the sap is rising. For this reason it is the last chance to plant a hedge if it is to have a good chance to grow. Otherwise the person planting any hedge will have to wait until October. It is also good practice not to cut hedges after mid-March to allow birds to nest. Furthermore, it is better practice to cut a hedge every other year or so as this allows insects, animals and birds to find more food sources during the winter months. One of the more traditional ways of maintaining a good hedgerow is to lay it every ten years. Hedgerows benefit farming because they not only make a lasting boundary, but they also enable livestock to graze safely and prevent them straying or trampling over other fields of crops.

A Layered Hedge

Hedgerows also provide shelter for crops and livestock from wind and snow. These windbreaks prevent soil erosion and the loss of valuable topsoil. In recent times many long established hedgerows have been removed in order to make the land more manageable with large farm machinery. The danger with this is that hedge removal may cause landscape degradation and topsoil erosion as well as loss of valuable habitat for fauna and flora. Ditches also keep the land drained, but with the use of tractors on soft mud water-logging can become a real problem, for example crops rotting and vehicles becoming stuck.

Blackthorn Flowers Prunus spinosa

The most prominent plant to be seen in hedgerows this month is the Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) because the beautiful white blossom is coming out. It has long been associated with the coming of spring, which starts officially on March the 21st.

Yew tree Taxus baccata

Another flower that comes out this month, probably unnoticed, are those of the Yew tree (Taxus baccata). Small yellow flowers are to be found on the male trees and small green flowers are found on the female trees. A good place to look out for them is in a church yard although there are many Yew trees scattered over the weald and downland. The best site to see yew trees, however, is at Kingley Vale which is Northwest of Chichester.

Scarlet Elf cup Sarcoscypha australis

If you are out walking in any wet areas this month you may stumble across a very striking fungus known as Scarlet Elf cup (Sarcoscypha australis). This bright red fungus can more usually be found in boggy areas under alder trees by streams although I have even found it growing on the top of the downs in a hazel coppice.

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Down on the ponds and lakes a number of birds will be pairing up and looking to nest like the Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus). The Moorhen derives its name from the Anglo-Saxon "mor" or "mere" meaning pond. They are very territorial and will fight with their long legs and beaks. Moorhens are black in colour with red beaks whilst the other closely associated bird the "Coot" is generally larger, black with a white beak.

Next month traditionally is associated with showers, which in turn will help a number of plants to grow – I'll tell you which plants to look out for and much more.