The Best of Spring in the United Kingdom
Britain is a Wonderful Location When the Warm Sun Wakes the Year
Mar 1, 2009
Spring can be wonderful in the United Kingdom when the sun is shining. It is the first time residents feel the warmth of the sun for four or five months, as although the sun shines in winter it is not usually strong enough for people to really feel its effects.
Spring Months in the United Kingdom
The traditional months of spring in the United Kingdom are March, April and May. They follow the winter months of December, January and February, and precede the summer months of June, July and August.
Although there can be unpredictable weather fluctuations, the spring months generally see the United Kingdom becoming warmer and lighter.
Spring Temperatures in Britain
The BBC website provides a chart showing the average temperatures for several cities in the United Kingdom.
The average maximum temperature for March is 8-10 degrees Celsius (about 48 degrees Fahrenheit), April is 11-13 Celsius (about 54 Fahrenheit), and May is 14-17 Celsius (about 60 Fahrenheit).
Lighter Evenings in Spring
The evenings get longer in the United Kingdom after the mid-winter solstice, which is usually on December 21st.
By March 1st there is light until about 6pm, compared with 4.30pm in mid-winter.
Britain uses daylight saving, so the clocks are turned forward an hour during the last weekend of March, and this means that it does not go dark until past 7pm afterwards.
By the end of May it is still light until after 8pm.
British People in Spring
The first rays of warm spring sunshine can bring a festive mood to life in the United Kingdom. After months of staying inside to avoid the cold and rain people start lunching outside to make the most of the sun, which is strongest in the middle of the day.
The longer evenings also provide opportunities for outside activities after work, and parks and gardens are often filled with people playing sports and holding barbeques.
Flora and Fauna
As the warmth of the sun finds its way down to the earth, deciduous trees start to bud again, and they become clothed again in green leaves over the spring months.
Blossom trees provide additional colour; with whites, pinks and purples scattered amongst the verdant landscape.
Animals such as hedgehogs, bats, dormice, frogs and toads all hibernate over the winter and their emergence into the spring sunshine can also brighten a walk in the countryside or a city park.
Spring is also the time of rebirth for animals, as the warmer weather provides better conditions for the rearing of the young, and so there are often opportunities to view families of animals frolicking in the spring sunshine.
Birds also return from wintering in warmer climes as the spring sunshine raises temperatures. Hedgerows come alive with the sound of warblers again, while the sky is filled with swifts, martins and wheatears.
More light and warmth and the return of life to trees and parks can make the United Kingdom a wonderful place to be in the spring.
SummaryThe arrival of warmer weather and new life can make spring a wonderful time in the UK. Colourful scenery and the sounds of young or returning wildlife invigorate the senses and awaken the mind after the cold winter months. However, spring can also disappoint.
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