Spring to emerge earlier than ever

Spring is likely to arrive ever earlier as a result of climate change, a survey by nature watchers suggests, after they spotted birds nesting and plants flowering across the UK already.

By Paul Stokes Last Updated: 9:18AM GMT 14 Mar 2009

Despite one of the coldest winters in recent memory there has already been evidence of wildlife responding up to three weeks in advance of normal.
The new season does not officially begin until next week's vernal equinox, but already there have been unusually early sightings across the UK.
Thousands of people are responsible for reporting their observations to Woodland Trust's Nature's Calendar on which the findings are based.
Shaun Nixon, the survey's manager, said: "The timing of natural events is one of the most responsive aspects of the natural world to warming, so it is an important indicator of change.
"Even in a year like this, with an apparent return to the winters of old, things seem to be happening and we have already had confirmation of frogspawn seen as early as December."
Among the ahead of normal reports this year were those of newts, butterflies, birds building nests early, hazel flowers, celandines and snowdrops.
The Trust has expressed concerns about species being fooled into activity by warmer weather and vulnerable to cold snaps while food chains could also come under pressure.
Mr Nixon added: "There will be variations year on year, but if we look back over the past 30 years we can see a marked advancement of Spring - two or three weeks for insects and a week for plants."
This week, 2,500 of the world's leading environmental scientists warned politicians of the drastic global warming which will result if governments fail to reduce greenhouse gases.
Scientists have warned that the arrival of Spring may lift people's spirits, but can also trigger migraines.
A study has shown temperature rises increase the number of people requiring hospital treatment for debilitating headaches.
According to the Met Office figures for December, January and February the temperature this year was half a degree below average after two years of being well above normal.
Even with the heavy snows, however, rainfall was two thirds of the average for February.
Helen Chivers, a Met Officer forecaster, said: "So far this year it has been fairly cool, but temperatures this weekend will be up."
England, Wales and Northern Ireland can expect dry, sunny spells and decreasing winds today and Sunday with temperatures reaching up to 14 degrees C in the south.
Much of Scotland faces gales and significant rain with temperatures dipping as low as seven degrees C.