SPRING appears to have really sprung into life this year.

We had a late snowfall and a bout of chilly weather after which I suffered from a rather nasty dose of flu that kept me indoors for far longer than I would have liked.

When, at last, I emerged, I was quite shocked to discover that spring had arrived.

In the space of just ten days, the natural world had quite dramatically changed. The drabness of winter was being pushed away and life seemed to be far more apparent everywhere I looked.

I could not have asked for a more uplifting tonic.

In the woods, the lush green of bluebells was everywhere and the plants were looking good and healthy.

Fingers crossed then that in a few weeks time we will be in for quite a show.

Among the trees, small birds were busy nest building.

Most had almost finished and were just putting the finishing touches to them.

The hazel coppice was also showing signs of life with huge numbers of pale green catkins (sometimes given the local name of lamb's tails), waving their pollen into the breeze.

Things were even more vibrant out on the marshes. Yellow celandines were in flower, but probably the most noticeable was the blackthorn scrub fringes to the wetlands.

These were a mass of wonderful white blossoms, which for density and volume would rival even the best-kept ornamental cherry you could find in your garden.

The goat willows were also flowering. While not as classically beautiful as the flowers of the blackthorn, the goat willows' furry, soft flowers certainly have their charm and were proving to be popular with the first generation of this year's bumble bee population, who were busy weaving in amongst the branches feeding on the nectar.

The heaths are still some way from their crescendo of colour, but as always the gorse certainly livens things up at this time of year.

Their wonderful sunshine yellow flowers waft a lovely coconut flavoured scent on warm, still days, which takes me back to childhood trips to the seaside.

With regard to the bird life, just like the woodlands, things are getting well underway now.

Spring is such an exciting time because with every visit, more wildlife is emerging from its dormant winter state and therefore reserves just seem to get more and more vibrant.

This is enough to give a real lift to any visitor's spirits.