Spring has sprung and don’t the animals know it. There are all kinds of comings and goings as the weather warms up. Here are seven of the most notable signs from the animal kingdom that spring is upon us:   1. Hello again, birds from afar It starts with the wheatears, sand martins and chiff chaffs, but for many people, it’s the arrival of swallows any time from late March through to May, that really heralds the arrival of spring. Other birds to look and listen for include the cuckoo,...

Of all the seasons, spring is the season of hope. New life steadily makes its presence felt, greening the grey and bringing colour, slowly at first with bright yellow and blue crocuses and gathering pace with daffodils, wild garlic and bluebells. By spring’s end, vibrant pink cherry blossom, bold yellow, purple and red tulips, and fully clothed trees, in that neon green of new growth, fulfil the promise of those early March days. Wildlife stirs, from boxing hares to nesting birds. The days...