Woodlands.co.uk

Blog - phenology

Butterflies and winter temperatures

Butterflies and winter temperatures

by Lewis, 10 August, 2012, 3 comments

Most species of butterfly produce one batch of eggs each year - like the gatekeeper butterfly.   However, some species can produce two sets of eggs a year.  Whether or not two sets of eggs are produced seems to be connected to or dependent upon the late winter / early spring mean (average) temperature. If it is 'warm' then some species of butterfly can start flying and reproducing earlier in the year.   The earlier production of the first brood of eggs makes the production of a second brood more likely.  Work on this has been conducted by Angus Westgarth Smith at Brunel University (using data from the Butterfly Monitoring Scheme - co-ordinated from CEH). Read more...
Spending time in woodland - an escape from the tyranny of modern time

Spending time in woodland – an escape from the tyranny of modern time

by Angus, 26 August, 2011, 0 comments

Nature is the biggest public clock, but it operates in ways that contrast with our rather industrialised way of measuring time.  Nature's time is seasonal and much less uniform than the digital clock but it is also more forgiving.  Things happen in a woodland when the time is right, rather than as a result of man-made regulation, and this very "natural" sense of time is what many people like about being in woodlands.  Owners often tell us about how their woodland is an escape from modern life but it is particularly the escape from being a slave to clock-time which comes across most strongly.  This enjoyment is of course linked to taking "time out" - it is a good thing to take time off work but it is a further escape to get away from being organised according to the clock. Read more...
Weather and climate ......

Weather and climate ……

by Chris, 25 December, 2010, 6 comments

Books often describe our climate as being ‘mild for the latitude’.  It might be difficult to believe this given the actual weather over these last few weeks. Newfoundland is similar in latitude to the British Isles, but the average temperature is some 10oC colder in winter.  We are the beneficiaries of the warming effect of the North Atlantic Drift – a current that develops in the Gulf of Mexico and then flows north-east across the Atlantic. It is a part or continuation of the Gulf Stream but we are also at the mercy of the jet stream. Read more...
Plants, past and present - Part 1

Plants, past and present – Part 1

by Chris, 28 March, 2008, 0 comments

Recording climate and phenology. The last decade has included some of the warmest years on record.Last year, 2007, was the eighth warmest on record - being exceeded by 1998, 2005, 2003, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2001.The signs of climate change are not only apparent in these physical measurements of temperature but also through observations of bud burst, first leaves and the arrival of migrant birds (the science of phenology). Such weather change, if it continues, will no doubt impact on the distribution of plants through the UK (and indeed Northern Europe); some species will be winners and other losers. But, how can we recognize / monitor these changes ? Read more...
The birds and bees

The birds and bees

by Tom, 1 March, 2007, 0 comments

The first blog in February talked about the revival of interest in Phenology over the last few years. Already this year is providing interesting phenological facts and figures.   January has proved to be the warmest in the UK since 1916; there was 17% more sunshine and 21% more rain than normal. Read more...
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness

by Chris, 23 August, 2006, 1 comments

It will not be long before the signs of autumn are apparent to all of us, especially after such a hot and dry summer. Once again the BBC, the Woodland Trust and the UK Phenology Network are inviting people to help chart the advance of autumn – by recording 6 key species – blackberry, hawthorn, swifts, conkers, ivy and oak. The collated information will help the UK Phenology Network build up a picture of Read more...

« Previous Page

Wild Flower Guide

Badger
Read our guide to wild flowers of woodland and hedgerow

Topics

Tags