Top 5 First Signs of Spring

It may still be feeling a little chilly outside, but spring is just around the corner! 🌱 The days are slowly getting longer, the mornings are getting a little brighter and, if you look closely enough, you’ll start to spot little clues that winter is beginning to make way for spring.

We love this time of year because you don’t need to go far to discover the magic of the changing seasons. Your local park, garden or favourite walking route can become a brilliant outdoor adventure, with plenty of things for curious little explorers to spot along the way.

So wrap up warm, pull on your wellies and head outside with your little ones for a springtime scavenger hunt!

We’ve put together five of our favourite signs of spring to look out for when you’re out and about with your children. From the first colourful blooms poking their heads above the ground to busy birds preparing for the season ahead, there’s plenty to discover if you know where to look. Keep your eyes peeled, your ears open and your wellies at the ready. You never know what you might find!

So, grab your little explorers and head outdoors. Spring is coming — let’s go and find it! 🌼

1) Buds and Flowers 🌸

Things are starting to get colourful! After the darker, colder days of winter, it’s wonderful to see little splashes of colour appearing everywhere you look. Take a closer look on your next family walk and you’ll spot blossoming trees, tiny green buds and delicate flowers beginning to emerge. Keep your eyes peeled for some of spring’s cheerful favourites. Daffodils, crocuses, tulips and daisies all begin bursting into life, brightening up parks, gardens, verges and woodland paths. They’re a sure sign that winter is slowly packing its bags and spring is on its way! And then there are the magnolias! With their beautiful star-shaped flowers and wonderful scent, magnolia trees put on a spectacular show as spring arrives. There are lots of lovely magnolia viewing spots around the UK, so why not make a day of it? Another springtime spectacle to look out for is a carpet of bluebells. When woodland floors turn into a sea of purple-blue flowers, it really does feel like you've stepped into a fairy tale. Little ones will love spotting them beneath the trees — just remember to admire these beautiful flowers from the paths and leave them growing where they are.

So, next time you’re out and about, slow down and take a closer look. Spring is popping up all around us, one tiny bud and beautiful bloom at a time! 🌱

2) Birdsong and Nesting 🐦

Listen carefully… can you hear that? As spring starts to creep closer, our feathered friends have plenty to say about it! Mornings and late afternoons become filled with cheerful birdsong as birds sing, chirp and call to one another. Spring is a particularly exciting time for our garden birds - as the days get longer and the weather begins to warm up, birds start getting busy preparing for the arrival of their chicks. Nesting is one of those lovely early signs that spring is on its way. Keep your eyes peeled when you’re out on a family walk. You might spot birds carrying twigs, moss, feathers and other bits and pieces to build their nests. Rooks are particularly easy to spot in early spring, flying back and forth between trees as they get busy building their homes. Their nests can often be seen high up in the branches, where they’ll be ready for the next generation of little chicks. Just remember to give nesting birds plenty of space and admire their hard work from a distance. After all, nobody likes a nosy neighbour!

So grab your wellies, head outside and keep your ears open. With birdsong filling the air and nests appearing in the trees, spring is definitely starting to make itself heard. 🌱🐦

3) Longer and Warmer Days ☀️

This one might seem like an obvious sign of spring, but oh, how lovely it is! After months of dark mornings and chilly afternoons, those extra minutes of daylight start to feel like a little gift. Suddenly, the sun is peeking through the curtains earlier in the morning and staying with us for longer in the evening. As the days stretch out and temperatures slowly begin to rise, there’s no better excuse to spend more time outside with your little explorers. Why rush home when there’s still plenty of daylight left for one more adventure? Spring makes those after-school trips to the park feel a little more inviting, family walks can go on for longer and there’s suddenly time for all sorts of outdoor fun. From hunting for signs of spring and spotting wildlife to scooting, cycling, climbing trees or simply finding the biggest puddle around, there’s plenty to keep little legs busy.

So, make the most of those longer days, pull on your puddlesuits and head outside. Spring is giving us more daylight — let’s make the most of every minute! 🌱☀️

4) Busy bees and friends 🐝

Have you ever spotted a red squirrel scampering through the trees? Keep your eyes peeled, because spring is a wonderful time to look for these little fluffy acrobats! Red squirrels can be seen throughout the year, but as the days grow lighter and warmer, they become busier, popping out to explore, forage and get on with their squirrelly business. And they’re not the only ones waking up to spring. Listen carefully and you might hear the gentle buzz of bees as they visit the first spring flowers, collecting precious pollen and nectar. Look down among the grass and you could discover a hare bounding across a field, or a frog sitting quietly beside a pond, waiting for the perfect moment to make a splash. Spring is full of tiny signs of new life, so take your time on your next nature walk. Look up into the branches, peek beneath leaves and pause beside ponds and hedgerows. How many busy bees, hopping frogs, speedy hares and cheeky squirrels can you spot?

Don’t forget to bring your binoculars — and keep very quiet. You never know who might be watching you back!

5) Cherry blossom 🌸

Pink, pretty and impossible to miss, cherry blossom is one of the loveliest signs that spring has arrived! As the trees burst into bloom, their branches become covered in clouds of delicate flowers, transforming parks, gardens and streets into a wonderful sea of pink and white. Why not wrap up the little ones, pull on your wellies and head out for a springtime blossom hunt? Are the flowers pale pink, bright pink or almost white? Can you find a tree with petals scattered all over the ground like a floral carpet? Cherry blossom is also the perfect excuse to stop for a few family snaps. Find your favourite tree, gather everyone underneath its branches and say “cheese!” And when you’ve finished admiring the blossom, keep exploring. Spring is busy beneath those beautiful branches too — look out for buzzing bees, birds gathering twigs and tiny green leaves beginning to unfurl.

So grab your coats, get outdoors and enjoy one of spring’s most magical little displays before the petals flutter away!