If fortune favours you, you might glimpse a March Hare on the South Downs—though given their nocturnal habits, it remains an outside chance.
Far more reliable are the garden stalwarts. Blue Tits are already deep into territorial defence, broadcasting their characteristic call: two or three bright, high‑pitched notes followed by a lower twitter. Their annual workload is about to escalate dramatically.
The Blue Tit’s Spring Timetable
- March–April: Nest construction begins. Expect to see them collecting moss, feathers, and any suitably soft material not currently in use by another species.
- April–early May: Egg‑laying commences, typically one egg per day, building to a clutch of 7–14.
- Mid‑May: Incubation by the female, lasting roughly two weeks require express food delivery. Hawthorn, Elder, Ivy, berry-baring shrubs butterfly foodplants help their plight.
- Late May–early June: Hatching and the onset of the parents’ intensive caterpillar‑foraging regime. You may see them look dishevelled and worn out!
- June: Fledging. Watching the newly emerged chicks find their feet and wings is one of spring’s most heartening sights.
3 March – World Biodiversity Day
A timely reminder that global biodiversity has declined by an estimated 73% since the 1970s. It is a sobering figure, but individual action at home and locally still matters. Inspiration and resources can be found at:
- greenhavens.network
- renaturingseaford.org
- rhs.org.uk/get-involved/wild-about-gardens
- www.wealdtowaves.co.uk/gardens-greenspaces/
10 March – Composting Week → 18 March – Global Recycling Day
An open compost heap—grass cuttings, twigs, and general garden vegetation—does more than recycle garden waste and nutrients. It becomes microhabitat: slow worms, frogs, toads, and occasionally hedgehogs may all take advantage. As the saying goes, if you build it, they will come.
13–29 March – The Big British Spring Clean
A national opportunity to remove litter and restore a bit of dignity to our shared spaces.
20–21 March – Spring Equinox, World Frog Day, World Forest Day
An abundance of nature‑themed dates. Friston Forest is an excellent place to mark the occasion and absorb some restorative “green time.” Taking in the ponds and ditches to spot our amphibious friends.
22 March – World Water Day
Why not visit Seven Sisters Country Park to see what is on and admire the waders, wildfowl in and over the meandering wetlands.
28 March – Earth Hour
Lights off from 8:30–9:30pm. After a month this busy, an hour of darkness may feel like a well‑earned sensory reset.
29 March – British Summer Time Begins
The weather will probably remain uncooperative, but at least the daylight lasts a little longer.
For training opportunities on offer through Ouse Valley Climate Action project please see www.southdowns.gov.uk/climate-action-hub/. If you’re interested in anything from first aid to setting up a community group, or nature identification to funding bid writing, please get in touch – contact@greenhavens.network
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