WEATHER WATCH

Cynics might suggest that the colder weather at the start of April is probably due to the start of the new county cricket season last Thursday!

Twenty years ago the first round of matches began on April 19 and a small lobby claimed that even this was too early in the year. In the event all the matches were blessed with magnificent weather. The capricious nature of our climate means that planning for bad weather is often a lottery.

This year heavy showers, widespread frosts and further snow in the Scottish mountains have put spring on temporary hold.

But a week is a long time in my world and we should enjoy some warmer spring sunshine in the coming week, though rain will never be far away – just what gardeners like to hear.