Many people look out each year for the first swallow, primrose or
small tortoiseshell butterfly to re-assure themselves that spring
is on its way.
In recent years it has been possible to feed information on
various seasonal wildlife sightings and events into a database that
has been developed by the Woodland Trust and the Centre for Ecology
and Hydrology. For more information follow this link to
nature’s calendar website (new window).
The study of seasonal natural events is known as phenology and
it is providing scientists with important information about the
short-term effects of a changing climate on a wide range of animals
and plants.
At the present time there is much speculation about the longer term
effects and a number of organisations are beginning to carry out
research into the potential impacts. The links below provide
some very useful information about this: