So why is February one of my favourite months? Well it is my birthday month but its the new signs of life that appear this month that make me smile. Snowdrops and green shoots start to appear on verges in woodlands and on many of our walks giving hope for the spring ahead.

Today is Imbloc which is a pagan festival celebrating the return of the light and the start of spring. It was the time when the cows and sheep started to produce milk for the first spring births and when the fisherman went back to sea. It was celebrated with fire to symbolise rebirth and is a traditional time to start a Spring clean of your home.

Its already half way from the shortest day the Winter Solstice to Spring equinox (around then clocks change) around end of March.

In the Christian calendar there is Candlemass on 2 February again to celebrate the mid point between winter and spring and is again a festival of light and traditionally new candles (Candlemass) 

Tomorrow is also Groundhog Day where in the Americas they test the length of the winter by seeing if a large rodent comes out of hibernation or is staying put indicating a longer winter!

And then there is Valentines Day, Pancake Day and then my birthday.

But mostly its because it heralds the return of the light as  it starts with a sunset before 5pm and ends with a sunset at nearly 6pm. The garden and the countryside start to come alive again.

So join me on a lovely early Spring walk this month! https://walx.co.uk/groups/walx-wessex/