This week, Club Wild was out and about looking for clues that Mother Nature leaves to tell us that spring is on the way!
We looked for snowdrops, the earliest bulbs to flower, and found bluebell shoots which pop up early to make the most of the light before the trees leaf above. We listened to all the different  bird songs and watched nests to see if the birds were busy building.
Over at the golf course pond we saw coots on their nests, and although maybe slightly early, we still looked for balls of jelly or frogspawn in the pond and ditches.
In the woodland we found bright yellow and purple catkins of hazel and alder trees. These floppy flowers are sometimes called lamb’s tails. We learnt that these trees, like silver birch flower before their leaves come. Their flowers are beautiful and also very good for early bees.
The children found hazelnut shells under the hazel trees that had been eaten by wood mice who nibbled a small hole in the shell and by squirrels who chopped them in half. On the way back to school Lachlan and Lucas found a pellet which was full of fur. Maybe it had been deposited by an owl or another bird of prey flying round school.
What an exciting time Spring is for all the plants and animals and for us Nature Detectives!
Sarah-Jane, Mrs Young & Club Wild
