The Woodland Trust is asking the Northern Ireland public to help them assess the impact of climate change on our most popular species, from snowdrops and bluebells to frogs and song thrushes.

"Simply by letting us know where and when you spotted your first snowdrop or frogspawn of the year, we can begin to understand the impact of climate change on our precious wildlife," said Dr Kate Lewthwaite, the Trust's Nature’s Calendar manager. “On average, spring is arriving earlier than it did 30 years ago. But how are our species responding? That’s where we need your help.”

Kate continues: “The Trust holds records going back to the 1600s, but this is no help if we don’t have people recording today to supply data for comparison.”

Snowdrops usually flower between January and March, though sometimes much earlier.  Try to avoid recording cultivated snowdrops, and extend your search to damp woods, stream sides, meadows and shady gardens for the wild-type plants, which have green tips on the inner petals and only one flower per stem. Last year snowdrops were sighted in County Down as early as 1 January, while the overall Northern Ireland average for snowdrop flowering, in keeping with the UK average, was 29 January.

While snowdrop searching, keep an eye open for other seasonal beauties such as wild primroses.  Look out for their distinctive pale yellow flowers from February (sometimes earlier), in woodland, hedgerows and ditches.  Youngsters in the family will no doubt help you on the quest for beloved frogspawn.  Last year, the average date for first frogspawn sightings in Northern Ireland was 4 March.

To find out more and get recording, visit Nature's Calendar