I can’t wait to…

…ADMIRE LICHENS

Lichens grow very slowly, at about 1mm a year, yet they have crept their way across 8% of Earth’s surface – a bigger area than the tropical rainforests. In summer, they tend to be overshadowed by blowsy wildflowers, but their textures and colours shine in the spare scenes of winter – like the gold of Xanthoria parietina (pic), also known as the sunburst. There are about 2000 lichen varieties in Britain, each a fascinating symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae, or cyanobacteria. Humans have used them for food, medicine, dye, perfume-making, and they’re a good litmus of clean air too, as lichens like things fresh. Jenny Walters, Features Editor

…SEE A HOMEMAKING HERON

Our native grey heron’s thoughts turn toward family matters this month. In winter they lay their eggs which means now’s the time to catch nest-building materials as well as lunch.

Seeing a statuesque heron always provides a walk with a sense of occasion (has ever a walker seen one and not said ‘There’s a heron look!’?). Should I see one with a sprig or two between those great clappers of its beak this month

I’ll think happily of the home improvements they’ll be on their way to make to the nest in the treetop heronry they and their perhaps numerous neighbours have likely occupied for many generations. Guy Procter, Editor

…GET COSY

People say winter’s the coldest season like it’s a bad thing. But for me all the opportunities to get warm again are one of its chief attractions. A fresh pair of socks after a walk is delightful, but socks that have been on the radiator?

Transcendent. And the fact winter turns mulled wine into a truly multipurpose fluid

– de-icing, hydrating, socially lubricating – is just brilliant. And then there’s the whole being warmblooded thing. Can any of us say we’ve really appreciated it until we’ve shrugged off wet clothes after a walk, pulled on a onesie and hand-hugged a hot chocolate? Marie Marsh, Production Editor