Love is like oxygen

Many animals are, or will be, emerging from hibernation including hedgehogs and some species of ladybird. Toads, frogs and newts immediately begin mating and produce rather different spawn. Common toads lay their eggs in double strips, frogs lay theirs in globular masses, while newts lay single eggs carefully wrapped in leaves.

This is a good time to stock ponds with ‘oxygenating’ (oxygen-producing) plants. Pond plants will also provide food, shelter and breeding grounds for dragonfly larvae, pond snails, water fleas and diving beetles in the coming months.

Queen bumble bees are busily checking out potential nest sites and foraging for food so make sure there are plenty of flowering plants around the garden this month. Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) is ideal. For next year’s bees, snowdrops (Galanthus) and spring snowflake (Leucojum vernum) can soon be obtained ‘in the green’. This ‘leaves attached’ option usually proves more successful than dry bulbs.