Spring Blossom (April 2023)

 A selection of early spring flowers captured along the Southwell Trail during April. These include: cherry, wild pear, and blackthorn blossoms; plus a celandine flower, newly sprouting hornbeam leaves and green returning to the fields. 

Southwell Trail (March/April 2022) - Part 2

Following on from my last post is a further selection of photographs from the Southwell Trail capturing the transition from winter to spring.

This time I concentrate mainly on the details rather than land or treescapes including early wildflowers, the first new leaves, blossoms, and some of the farming activities in the local fields.

Celandine are often the first wildflowers to bloom on the trail, seen below with some violets. I also noted a fine patch of honesty (Lunaria annua):

There is always plenty of blackthorn and damson on the trail in early spring along with the uplifting cherry blossoms:

The birch trees are one of the first to develop their leaves in addition to the mass of catkins:

Also noticeable are the flowering field maples:

Early spring is a good time for following the farming activities. Some of the fields are treated with lime before the ploughs get to work. The deep ruts create a visual spectacle that never fails to impress:

March on the Southwell Trail - Part 2

Following on from my previous post is a selection of mainly close-up photographs from the Southwell Trail taken during March. Together they record the start of the spring season, with the first sightings of celandine flowers:

These are hornbeam leaf buds that are just starting to produce new leaves:

New hawthorn leaves plus the first hawthorn blossom of the season:

Willow catkins:

The large bud of a horse chestnut tree:

I think this is a flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum):

The fields off the trail were being prepared for a new crop leaving these stripy patterns:

Finally, as we leave winter behind, it doesn’t take long for some the paths to dry out and crack: