"The promise of spring's arrival is enough to get anyone through the bitter winter!" Jen Srlinsky
A new season is upon us. Spring is a welcome reprieve from the winter months. A time to make a fresh start as nature reawakens, the days get longer, and (fingers crossed) the weather gets warmer!
To help you make the most of the season, here are four ways to leave you feeling full of the joys of spring.
Enjoy the blooming lovely flowers
Springtime is a nature lover's dream - a seasonal spectacle of colourful blossoms and greenery.
Whether it's in nature, visiting public gardens, or attending flower festivals, be sure to seek out the pale-yellow blooms of the primrose, the distinctive yellow glow of daffodils, and the bell-shaped snowdrops.
To help you plan your nature spotting, here's Gardener's World's guide to 20 of the best spring flowers.
Make the most of the longer days
Nothing beats the feel-good feeling of the sun on your face. Not only can it help to shake off the wintertime blues, but your body creates vitamin D from sunlight, which keeps bones, teeth, and muscles healthy.
During Spring, the sun starts setting later, which means more daylight hours. In fact, it jumps from just 47 hours of sunshine in January to 102 in March.
So, embrace the longer days by heading outdoors for some al fresco fun, whether it's a picnic, a hike, a bike ride, or a trip to the beach.
Listen to nature's soundtrack
The arrival of spring is announced by a chorus of bird song.
According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), springtime's longer days switch male songbirds into breeding mode, so listen out for Chaffinches, Great tits, and Blackcaps singing to attract a mate as the sun rises.
To help you work out if the beautiful bird song is a wren, robin, or warbler, check out the Woodland Trust's guide to identifying bird song.
Savour a springtime menu
One of the best - and tastiest - ways to savour spring is to enjoy a picnic in the garden, beach, park, or, well, anywhere outdoors.
As well as taking your pick from farmers' markets and food festivals, you can also forage for wild food, such as garlic, using this handy guide from the National Trust.
Of course, no picnic is complete with another springtime favourite: fruit cake. In fact, simnel cake, in particular, is linked to the springtime celebration of Easter.
