The recent cold biting north and north easterly winds may be persuading us to think it is still winter and to stay indoors in the warm. However, perhaps spring is closer than we think. Indeed, this morning I watched a robin in the garden at Wrenthorpe busy collecting nesting material and taking it to an old nesting box at the back of the garden shed. Blue tits have also been ‘viewing homes’ before deciding on the best nest boxes for them. A surprise sighting yesterday in the garden was of two firecrests. Sadly, they did not stay long and I guess they will nest elsewhere. 
Flowers are understandably scarce at the moment. However, recent visits toNostell Priory have been rewarded with seeing fantastic carpets of snowdrops
