Today, 20th March marks the Spring Equinox in our Northern Hemisphere, when day and night will be around the same length. This is officially the beginning of spring and from this day forward the day is longer than the night - hello lighter nights and green fingered time in the garden not being limited to the weekend!
Fun Spring Facts
1. You might be more likely to see snow at Easter than at Christmas! Snow or sleet falls on average 3.9 days in December, compared to 4.2 days in March. However, because Easter weekend sometimes changes, when it falls can have an impact. April has only 2.3 days of snow or sleet fall. Hope the Easter Bunny has mittens and wellington boots for this year!
2. The warmest spring on record was 2011 with an average daytime temperature of 9.2 °C. The coldest Was the spring of 1962, with an average daytime maximum of 5.8 °C. 1947 saw the wettest spring to date with 331.7 mm of rainfall. The average temperature for spring is 7.7 °C (anyone for a cheeky Easter getaway to warmer climates? The sunniest spring was in 1948, in which a total of 558 sunshine hours were recorded.
3. This year, we have had an unusual amount of weather to’ing and fro’ing, with warmer days quickly being followed by plummeting temperatures. This is referred to as a “false spring” and can trick plants into coming out of dormancy, and animals out of hibernation early. Sadly, there are a number of negative effects which we have overserved as a result of this year’s false spring, delicate leaves and flower buds often die when the cold temperatures return, and trees can be more susceptible to disease and tend to produce less fruit. Monitoring the weather forecast, covering vulnerable plants, and delaying gardening activities can all limit the damage.
4. Sense of smell can be more acute in spring as there is usually more moisture in the air! Perfect timing to smell the beautiful spring flowers. Daffodils, lilies, iris and lilacs are some of the first spring flowers to emerge.
5. Bye bye winter blues hello spring fever. There has been a lot of research into how seasonal changes affect our mood and behaviour, with some studies suggesting that time outside on a sunny spring day undoubtedly improves your mood. Some further studies into the topic, also suggest that the sunny spring weather isn’t just a mood booster, it can actually change the way people think – being outside can broaden your mind and leave you more open to new information and creative thoughts. Was there ever a better excuse to work outside?
6. The miracle that is photosynthesis means that whilst plants are growing in the spring, they pull carbon out of the atmosphere, providing an important environmental service and helping us reduce that all important carbon footprint. Plants take in around a whopping 25% of the carbon emissions we humans produce, and because of this the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere drops during spring and summer seasons. Time to get outside and breathe in that spring air while it’s at its freshest!
