Easter eggs are in the shops, days are getting longer and the sun has broken through the clouds several times over the past week. Spring is on its way and I think many of us are ready for a respite to the seemingly incessant wet and windy weather we have had of late. The birds in our garden are certainly becoming more active (and vocal!) and are starting to build their nests, young shoots and buds are appearing everywhere and cherry trees are displaying their lovely blossom. It seems natural to celebrate the onset of Spring as we bid farewell to Winter and life begins anew. We marked the occasion by creating this little spring wreath using an old egg box, a toilet roll tube and plenty of paint!
We are not alone in welcoming Spring's arrival of course as the onset of the season has long been celebrated as a time of renewal and rebirth and, over the years, the traditions and symbolism associated with these celebrations have become intertwined and given rise to the ways in which modern festivities are commemorated. For example, the Venerable Bede in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People (completed in about 731 AD) claimed that the term "Easter" is itself derived from the name of the Anglo-Saxon spring goddess Eostre, though the veracity of this claim has been questioned due to the absence of supporting evidence in other literature. The rabbit and the hare have also long been associated with Easter and the changing seasons, due to their fertility and "mad" behaviour in March.
As the weeks progress, I am conscious that work in our garden really needs to step up a gear. The ground is still very wet, but I have started to dig out some plants from the front border and have planted the teasel seeds I collected some weeks ago. I have also planted some more sweet peas and sunflowers and some millet (I have decided to grow some of my own bird food this year!). I have started all of these off in pots and will decide where to put the seedlings later.
On Sunday we had a break from the house and garden and went for a walk in the lovely Oxfordshire countryside. The children had a great time squelching through the mud and clambering over vegetation and I marvelled at the entertainment that could be caused by a simple stick as they used them to dig in the ground, played pooh sticks and started to build a simple den! I have said it many times but I really hope this fascination and joy with nature will continue.
Along these lines, the BBC News website recently reported a study undertaken by the National Trust and the University of Derby which found a worryingly high percentage of adults and children rarely "connected" with nature. For example, a survey indicated that more than 70% of children said they rarely or never watch clouds, butterflies and bees. The report also noted that a daily exposure to the natural world is linked to a higher well being and that those who allow themselves this daily dose are more likely to help tackle environmental issues as they arise.
This put me in mind of the poem "Leisure" by W. H. Davies which has always been a favourite of mine!
Leisure
What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare?—
No time to stand beneath the boughs, And stare as long as sheep and cows:
No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:
No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night:
No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance:
No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began?
A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.
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