Wildflower Meadow

Our meadow is really starting to come to life after its winter rest. Here are a few "ordinary" pictures taken today showing some of the early signs. It was also good to see two species of butterfly in the field close to the tall hedge on the Eastern side, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. The latter was feeding on the Celandine.

Across the middle of the field following the route of a hedge which was shown on the 1839 tithe maps is a line of Lessor Celandine ( Ranunculus ficaria) The petals glistening bright yellow in the afternoon sunshine. They don't appear anywhere else in the field

This display of Blackthorn blossom is gradually appearing on more and more of our 3 year old hedge plants as each day passes.

Looking like gold nuggets  this picture shows a  branch in a nearby hedge. I assume its a form of lichen but have no idea what its name is so any suggestions are welcome.

Finally a view along half of our new hedge which if you look carefully is now gradually coming into leaf Amongst the first plants to show leaves are the privet and Hawthorne.