Warm weather sees south Essex woodlands blossom (From Echo)

Warm weather sees south Essex woodlands blossom

3:00pm Tuesday 10th April 2012 in News By Emma Thomas

SPRING sprung early this year bringing woodlands to life with hundreds of wildflowers.

The Scrubs, at Gusted Hall Lane, Hawkwell, is carpeted with wood anemones, and Norsey Wood, in Outwood Common Road, Billericay, has a sprinkling of bluebells.

The National Trust says bluebells have come early because of the warm and dry March, but the low rainfall could lead to the plants being smaller and having a shorter season.

Naturalist Ross Gardner, who runs the Meadowfield Centre for Environmental Education, in Church Road, Hockley, said its garden was flowering well.

He said: “I have seen a few bluebells around, it is quite early for those.

“Some of the goat willow at Meadowfield has started to flower early.

“It can be the weather, it can tend to bring things further forward. Some things are triggered by day length and some things are triggered by temperature.”

The Meadowfield Centre gives primary school children the opportunity to learn about the natural world.

Mr Gardner, who has written a book about nature called Never a Dull Moment, added: “The wooded area at Meadowfield is starting to green up nicely – the silver birch is coming into life and we have got some blackthorn blossom in the hedgerow.

“There are a few little wildflowers popping up. It is all starting to look good.”

And Southchurch Park, in Southend, is bursting with colour thanks to its stunning tulips.