Spring is well and truly here ( along with lots of April showers!) , so on Sunday I took my Ladybird Book ‘ What To Look For In Spring’ out and about for an impromptu Photo Shoot. Ladybird Books were part of my childhood, though it is only in the last couple of years that I have started collecting the What To Look For series. Now I have all four seasons, I think I will expand my collection to include some of the other Nature titles. 🙂 It was interesting to compare the pictures in the book ( beautifully illustrated by naturalistic painter Charles Tunnicliffe) with life in the countryside today.
My photos are from two walks I did with the dog ( and Wil!) in my local area. I’ve included a few written extracts found in ‘What To Look For In Spring’ along with my pictures. 🙂 This Ladybird book was published in 1961.
‘By the first week of April the lambs that were born in February are large enough to enjoy springtime games. The blackthorn is now in full blossom’
The lambs I saw were catching the sun’s rays and the lacey blackthorn blossoms are indeed in full bloom.
‘Growing amongst the roots of the tree are violets and lesser celandine.Dead leaves have gathered here and decayed , giving nourishment to the roots of the violets which like soft humus.’
I’m not sure what soft humus is, but it seems to be true…..
‘ Magpies are wily birds and it is extremely difficult to get near enough to shoot them, but many countrymen do so when they can, and feel they have done a good deed.’
Hmmm not sure country folk go round shooting Magpies, but some do salute them!
‘In a woodland opening we find wood-anemones which spread by underground stems and are consequently all close together.’
Saw carpets of these pretty white flowers in the woods.:)
It was the perfect day for a walk up a country lane with views of Pendle Hill, its slopes looking almost gentle from this distance.
‘We know that March will soon be followed by April-when windows can be opened again,and hedgehogs and dormice can end their hibernation and enjoy the sunshine.With Spring comes the greatest wonder of the year-possibly even more beautiful than Summer.’
I certainly agree that Spring is full of wonder. Every day new flowers appear and life is springing up everywhere. If you have a ladybird book or any nature publication from the past, why not see how wildlife compares ,then and now.Let me know how you get on. X
sunshine and celandines 
magpies used to be shot/are shot as they are considered vermin and they are known for eating eggs of other birds, especially ground nesters and young chicks so ground keepers would shoot them to protect pheasant etc
Ahh ok, that explains it.
And a fair few farmers still shoot mapies (and other corvids, and wood pigeons and the like) as they just think they’re a nuisance!
I love the idea of taking the book out – I might steal that idea when I’m struggling for one of my ‘366 Days Wild’! Like you, I have all four books and do have a few other natures titles which I always intend to expand but I never spend any time seeking them out!
I know what farmers are like,I’m actually from farming stock.My Dad would shoot anything that moved from the bedroom windows of the farm house we lived in.It was not even a surprise when a wood pigeon landed at your feet whilst walking up the yard.Ha..I thought that was just my Dad though….Yes do it.It makes for a fun and interesting walk.:)
I forgot to say – regarding soft humus – humus is the decaying plant and animal matter contained within the top layer of soil. That’s one of the few things I’ve managed to remember from school science lessons, haha!
Ha Thanks Louise.I can always depend on you to know these things.lol.:)
Lovely post, and great idea taking the book out to find Spring, maybe not for the Magpie, safely it still goes on. Large numbers of Crows will be shot while on the nest, very sad.
Love the book though will have to look out for it.
Amanda xx
Yes do, Ladybird books such as this are beautifully illustrated and really give you an insight into countrylife many years ago.x
I remember the ladybird books so well – it’s so interesting to compare the attitudes of then and now. Lovely photos of your walks.
Oh thank you very much.Yes it is so interesting to compare.I might do the same with my summer one.Thanks for the comment.:)
Good old Ladybird. Not sure about throwing those windows open very often this April 😦
Ha no, to many April Showers!
Awww, lambs!
Whatever humus is you probably don’t want to confuse it with hummus 😉
Ha yeh , that could be nasty
….
I love this post. I love my ladybird books. Well done for finding similar views.
Thank you.It was surprisingly easy.:)
Yes, LadyBird Books were part of my childhood too, full of easy charm. This was a lovely walk to share with you.
Thank you. So glad you enjoyed it. We just need that lovely weather back. 🙂
Nice post. How ironic, shooting magpies to stop them eating the pheasant eggs and chicks which they will also want to shoot once they’re grown.
Very true. I think they can be quite nasty to lambs too, as all corvids can be. 😦
I had several Ladybird books when I was a kid, used to love the I Spy ones too as I got a bit older, especially the car one 🙂
Yes! I have actually bought my god daughters I spy books for their time off school. 🙂
Lovely book! And beautiful lambs 🙂 🙂 Stay safe, hon!
You too Jo. Xx
I had that book as a child!
I remember ed them from my primary school and rediscovered them as an adult. X