Spring come early will probably be a theme of this diary in the weeks ahead. Today was more like summer come early with temperatures in the mid twenties.

 I saw Bluebells in the hedgerows at the weekend; I would expect Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) to be out late April/early May. Having said that the ones I saw looked more like the hybrid 'Garden Bluebell' (H. x massartiana) which is a cross of H. non-scripta and the Spanish Bluebell (H. hispanica). Our native Bluebell has arching stems with downward nodding bells. These are taller, more upright with bells facing stiffly out and up. Garden and Spanish Bluebells flower earlier.

 It is supposed that hispanica genes can cross pollinate with wild Bluebells and perhaps that has happened here? I will have to walk further out to several ancient Bluebell woods in the next few days because they are definitely non-scripta.