I neglected to mention that the Blackthorn has been in flower since last week - I first noticed it on Thursday 05 April, so it probably started the previous day. It’s earlier than it was last year due to the fine weather (March and April 2006 were unseasonably cold and the Blackthorn didn’t bloom until the very end of April - just before the Whitethorn in fact).

So the countryside is dotted with the creamy-white Blackthorn and bright orange-yellow Furze (aka Whin and Gorse) blooms.