Without making any comments regarding global warming...….. what we think is the the first snowdrop of the year was snapped today ( 31st December 2019 ) in the rear of the duck pond area.
We have a lot of wildflowers growing cross the site and these are the first to come into flower. We believe them to be Galanthus Nivalis - the common snowdrop.
Little known facts about the snowdrop include that it is quite poisonous if eaten in significant amounts, particularly the bulbs - this is not normally an issue but snowdrop poisoning does occur in cats & dogs so please keep your dogs close by (on a lead). It is however the same toxic substances that are researched for medicinal use as they are believed to slow the progress of early onset Alzheimer's disease. Similarly to chrysanthemums, snowdrops have insecticidal properties that make eating the plants and bulb unappealing to many common insect pests. They are though one of the earliest blooming flowers found in the UK and provide a nectar meal to early-emerging bumblebees.
Photo taken by Theo - aged 9.