Harsh times for spring wildlife

Published on 19/03/2013 22:14

A LATE spring could harm mammals that hibernate – such as bats and hedgehogs – conservationists have warned.

Continuing cold weather has also significantly cut sightings of spring wildlife compared with last year, according to reports received from the public by the Woodland Trust’s Nature’s Calendar recording scheme.

Sightings of the common seven-spot ladybird and the peacock butterfly have been notably sparse in Scotland and the North of England compared with 2012, and records of tree budburst are lagging behind other years, the Woodland 
Trust said.