Though January 1 marks the start of our calendar year, spring feels like the time when things really get going, as forests awaken, flowers bloom, migrating birds (swallows, swifts, warblers…) return f

As the days stretch out, so does our sense of possibility – brighter mornings, longer evenings and more time to focus on ourselves

It can still seem like winter, but March sees birds beginning to stir, writes David Callahan …

Red kites, great spotted woodpeckers and pink-footed geese are only a few of the birds doing brilliantly in the British Isles right now. Mark Cocker celebrates their success stories and looks at what might be learnt from them

As the long nights shorten, Mounton House garden quietly emerges from winter with delicate sprinklings of white narcissi, Scilla siberica and crocuses through the lawns. Daphnes fill the air with frag

Find out which early species to watch for, how to make your patch more butterfly-friendly and where to record your sightings for science