May: A Monthly Muse

Happy May!

One of the pivotal months in nature's calendar - when everything starts to kick off, so to speak. The hedgerows are in full flower, the birds are nurturing their young and we're all playing catch up in the garden!

Beltane, part of the Celtic calendar, takes place on 1 May - traditionally marked by large bonfires, joyful dancing and decorating the home with yellow flowers. Beltane marks the beginning of summer and is a occasion full of promise and hope.

If you live in the countryside or near green spaces, you'll see the frothy white flowers of cow parsley popping up, and hawthorn blossom in full bloom. The dawn chorus has reached it's peak, a dawn chorus walk is a great way to enjoy this in full swing, if you can persuade everyone up by 5.30am! Fox cubs can be seen playing, especially in urban areas, or if you live in a more rural setting, badger activity will be ramping up and hedgehog mating season - the rut - begins...

If you have a pond in your garden, or nearby, look out for dragonflies emerging, they can often be spotted drying their wings in the spring sunshine before flying off - leaving the empty dried cases behind stuck to reeds. These are fun to collect! Nature's treasure.