Citizen science on Springwatch - with the Woodland Trust >>> tracking how fast spring moves

'Citizen science' is proving very important in the gathering of data:
Futures Forum: "How ancient Devon woodland will help citizen scientists predict the effects of climate change"
Futures Forum: "Citizen scientists: Now you can link the UK winter deluge to climate change"

Many nature conservancy bodies ask members to collect information:
Futures Forum: Big Butterfly Count

And the BBC's extremely successful Springwatch programme has engaged enthusiastic viewers now for twelve years in recording the first signs of spring:
Futures Forum: Citizen science on Springwatch

This year's efforts started up this evening:
BBC Two - Springwatch

... with a very practical guide:

Help us track how fast spring moves

Thursday 02 April 2015, 10:27

Guest blogger

By Dr Kate Lewthwaite, Woodland Trust Citizen Science Manager

Here at the Woodland Trust we have been recording signs of spring (and autumn!) for 15 years. This is a mere blink of the eye compared to the records which date back nearly three centuries to when Robert Marsham began recording spring species and events back in 1736 on his family estate near Norwich.

In partnership with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Cambridge we have been able to analyse over two and a half million pieces of data, historic and modern, recorded by the public across the length and breadth of the UK. This information has provided a real insight into how plants and animals are responding to climate change. We have already discovered how both spring and autumn are arriving earlier than before; up to two weeks in the case of certain species, and that the seasons in themselves are also much less distinct. In some years ‘winter’ seems to hardly make an appearance at all.

We know that some species are dependant on one another and so the relationship between when they appear is important. If leafing and caterpillar hatching are happening earlier, for instance, birds will need to be able to respond to this so they don’t miss the peak availability of spring food for their nestlings.

What we have yet to really understand is how and why these events occur geographically across the country and what influences may play a part on their arrival. So theoretically we know that spring should begin in the South West and work its way up the country to Scotland. What is less clear is how quickly certain species will make an appearance across the country from south to north.

With the help of Springwatch viewers we hope to piece together the speed at which five seasonal events are first seen across the country from south to north; seven-spot ladybird, oak leafing, hawthorn flowering, orange-tip butterfly and the swallow returning from Africa.

By analysing the records we hope to find out if there is a uniform direction that spring progresses in, whether particular species react differently and even if it speeds up or slows down as it arrives.

Better understanding of seasonal timings means we may be able to help species that appear less able to react to climate change. For example analysis of our records shows that frogs are so locally adapted they may struggle to keep up with even modest change.

We all know that our precious wildlife habitats are under threat and it’s important we do what we can to protect and link up existing habitats, create new habitats and manage the natural environment for the benefit for as diverse an array of wildlife as possible.

Tips on how to identify the Big Spring Watch species:

• English oak
• Hawthorn
• 7-spot ladybird
• Orange tip butterfly
• Swallow

Tips for getting outdoors:

• Getting outdoors with your family
• Getting outdoors with your school or group

BBC Blogs - Springwatch - Help us track how fast spring moves

And from the Woodland Trust:

How fast does spring move?

 

From spotting the first snowdrop in spring, through to looking for the autumnal colours in leaves, Nature’s Calendar volunteers record the signs of the seasons where they live. These records add to the longest written dataset of its kind. Beginning in 1736, the results are helping us to understand how nature is responding to a changing climate.

Along with the BBC's Big Spring Watch and the British Science Association we’re asking everyone to look out for some commonly seen natural events. From this we’ll aim to calculate how fast the arrival of spring 2015 sweeps across the UK from south to north. Snail’s pace, walking pace, jogging pace? Only you can help us find out!

Get involved

1.     Register as a recorder with Nature’s Calendar.

2.     Discover what to look out for and download information packs.

3.     Get recording, keep up to date with our recording map, and tweet your findings.

The Nature's Calendar Survey - Woodland Trust
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