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Friends of Studham Common

Primroses

This is the first time that we have been writing April’s nature notes with snow on the ground!  On the Common the gorse flowers were peeping out from under the cloak of snow. Over the last few days the sun has shone warmly, flowers have been blooming and butterflies and bumblebees flying around but today (6th April) is quite a contrast.  

The wet summer last year seems to have suited primroses. They have been flowering locally since February with more and more flowers opening as the weeks went by. Hawthorn is coming into leaf and buds are bursting on horse chestnuts, sycamores and some other trees. Blackthorn and wild cherry are just coming into flower. Hopefully they won’t be spoiled by the cold and will make a good display later.

Frog tadpoles have hatched in our garden pond and toads have been moving on warm nights across Common Road. The first swallows and other summer birds have been seen and heard elsewhere in Bedfordshire but the winter birds haven’t all left yet. Siskins are still coming to our feeders and were joined today by two bramblings. Both of these species breed further north. The resident birds are singing and some are prospecting for nest sites.

Siskin on feeder

See previous month’s Nature Notes

The Chilterns, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - website:

Budding Horse Chestnut

April Snow on West Common

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