THE sun is shining and the weather is gradually beginning to thaw. So where better place to be than wondering around our green spaces scanning for signs of spring?

Snowdrops are a wonderful indicator of the season, and, in September, 1,000 were planted as a special tribute to an eco-hero whose achievements ranked him alongside Charles Darwin.

Tony Bradshaw was Professor of Botany at Liverpool University and was internationally acclaimed for his research and environmental work, and the bulbs planted in his memory are now starting to bloom.

Around Merseyside, the Woodland trust is asking us all to help assess the impact of climate change on the UK’s most popular species.

“Simply by letting us know when and where you spotted your first snowdrop or frogspawn of the year, we can begin to understand the impact of climate change on our native species,” said Dr Kate Lewthwaite, the Trust’s Nature’s Calendar manager.

“On average, spring is arriving earlier than it did 30 years ago. But how are our species responding? That’s where we need your help.”

Last year, snowdrops were sighted in Merseyside as early as January 16, with the average date recorded as February 1, while the earliest frogspawn sighting was February 25, with the average date recorded as March 9. The trust needs more volunteers so they can track what’s happening this year. “The trust holds records going back to the 1600s, but this is no help if we don’t have people recording today to supply data for comparison,” said Dr Lewthwaite.

February is a prime time to be on the hunt for spotting the first signs of spring. Woodland Trust volunteer Debra Williams, who lives in Liverpool, said: “Merseyside is blessed with some fantastic woods, such as Big Wood, in Runcorn. The days are beginning to lengthen and the woods are slowly waking up. A visit is a great remedy for the winter blues or just to put a spring back in your step, and, by making a record of what you see when you are out and about, you are helping to extend further understanding of the impact of climate change on native plants and animals.”

TO LEARN more, or to take part, visit www.naturescalendar.co.uk