Winter’s icy grip could hand us a spectacular spring

While the snow may have largely subsided, things remain stubbornly chilly this weekend. It is a similar story into next week as a spell of high pressure extends from mainland Europe, bringing with it some persistently cold temperatures (particularly so in the east).

Peering into the long-range forecast, it appears as if winter remains unwilling to release its grip.

Cold weather in early February has a particularly noticeable impact on trees and shrubs, interrupting what is known by scientists as “First

Flowering Day” for many species. The forsythia in my back garden has cautiously unfurled the first of its yellow flowers, while local clumps of blackthorn also appear ready to pop.

But a spell of cold is enough to stop these blossoming plants in their tracks. This is useful at this time of year, particularly as plants are flowering increasingly early as a result of climate change. One recent study, compiling hundreds of thousands of botanical records, found that climate change is causing many species of plants to come into flower a month earlier compared with previous centuries.

Such unseasonable blooms affect the whole food chain. Insects are deprived of the nectar on which they typically rely and in turn birds are forced to survive on diminished prey. Meanwhile, for fruit trees, an early blossom can often result in a poor crop.

It was a similar story last year when a spell of Arctic weather in early February delayed trees coming into blossom. When things warmed up and everything exploded into life, it was a particularly spectacular display.

So there is a thought to warm the cockles on another dreary weekend of what has been a long and gruelling winter. The darker the days now, the brighter the blossom in a few weeks. Spring is always worth the wait.*

Blossom buds in St James’s Park, London