March: A Monthly Muse

Spring is most definitely in the air - there's some debate about the official start; 1 March when Meteorological Spring begins, used by the Met office to look at seasonal statistics, Astronomical Spring on 20 March is the date of the equinox, or some see it as 29 March when the clocks go forward and we have longer, lighter days.

But whichever way you look at it, the signs are here and we've created a printable Spring Scavenger Hunt to encourage little ones to get outside and take a closer look at nature. 

March also sees St David's Day on 1 March, St Piran's Day in Cornwall on 5 March, celebrating the patron saint of tinners, Mothering Sunday on 15 March, traditionally a day off to visit family at home, St Patrick's Day on 17 March & Lady Day on 25 March - marking the beginning of the new agricultural season.

In terms of foraging, wild garlic seems to come earlier each year and the shoots are starting the appear - easy to use in pestos, pasta, salads and the flowers make a pretty, and edible, garnish.