Has spring already sprung in Hampshire?

8:58am Wednesday 6th February 2008

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SNOWDROPS in bloom, frogspawn clustered in ponds, seven-spotted ladybirds in flight - they are all signs which suggest that springtime has sprung early in Hampshire.

Across the county, confused flowers have been popping up out of season and animals have been coming out of hibernation - despite the fact there is still officially one month left of winter.

“January temperatures for this year are probably two degrees above the seasonal average, but until we have the complete spring picture it’s too early to judge overall impact. The last few years have thrown up mild springs. Last year records between January and April made it the warmest spring since records began in 1659."

Dr Kate Lewthwaite, of the Woodland Trust

Hazel catkins have been spotted in 16 different locations in Hampshire, and more than 28 sightings of snowdrops have been reported to the Woodland Trust.

Frogspawn popped up in a pond in Hedge End in mid January, and a newt was spotted in Southampton just days later.

Nesting rooks were first spotted building their homes on January 7 in New Milton, followed by another three observations around the county.

Two rare seven-spot ladybirds have been spotted so far this year in the county.

At gardens around the county, spring flowers have also started to blossom early.

Wolfgang Bopp, curator at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Romsey, said the early appearances were due to the mild winter rather than an early spring.

"The brighter, warmer days of this winter have definitely had an effect on the plants and flowers, because it encourages them to blossom earlier," he explained.

Dr Kate Lewthwaite, of the Woodland Trust, said: "January temperatures for this year are probably two degrees above the seasonal average, but until we have the complete spring picture it's too early to judge overall impact.

"The last few years have thrown up mild springs. Last year records between January and April made it the warmest spring since records began in 1659.

"There are three main concerns thrown up by spring's continued advance.

"Species fooled by warmer weather into activity, blossoming or breeding are very vulnerable and can get caught out by the sort of freeze not uncommon in February."

It is not the first time this winter than the Daily Echo has reported unseasonal natural sightings across the county.

In November we told how Christine Rowe, of Millbrook, Southampton, had a lupin flower blossoming in her garden, while primroses in Sandra Howell's garden in West End had popped up and Alison Parsons was shocked to see