Listen to the Spring awakening

Everything awakens during Spring. Seeds germinate, plants grow new leaves and flowers, insects emerge from cocoons, birdsong fills the air and our shorebirds complete their huge migration back to our intertidal zones. It’s a wonderful time of emergence and new life.

On your next wander, consider pausing for a moment to take in the changes and the activity happening around you. If it is safe to do so, perhaps close your eyes and listen closely to the sounds.

• What is close?
• What is distant?
• What is drawing your attention?

​You may wish to wonder about why the sound is being made. Is it communication, is it territorial or is it a warning?

Think about how you can convert the sound onto your nature journalling page. Consider ways to describe sound. Experiment with writing a poem about what you’ve heard. It doesn’t have to rhyme! It may even be a cartoon of how the sound might look on paper. Have fun with it!
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Of course, always be mindful of safety (perhaps take a trusted friend if you don’t enjoy being alone) and be prepared for the cold weather.

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