A sure sign spring is approaching

The spring is creeping towards us and one of the signs of spring, apart from the familiar garden daffodils and snowdrops, is the lesser celandine.

This little, delightful yellow flowered plant is low growing and tends to like damp and shady conditions.

Around New Romney I have noticed the plant growing on damp roadside verges and up against old garden walls which also have some sunshine.

In the wider Kent countryside it is a familiar plant of woodland rides and paths and so don’t just look for the obvious bluebells when looking in woodlands this spring.

The plant itself has eight to 12 yellow petals and underneath has three green sepals, with one flower per each stalk.

The leaves are heart-shaped which helps identify the plant from a number of buttercups which might also be flowering in the early spring.

For more information contact Owen Leyshon, Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership, telephone 01797 367934 or log on to www.rmcp.co.uk