Welcome!
Happy 2026 and welcome back to the PGP blog. Spring is here, and the Earth is starting to wake up. In this blogpost you will find some suggestions for some tiny signs of Spring you may spot when out in nature this month, the best places to find them and some playful suggestions for free activities to help you and the little people in your life feel closer to the green spaces around you.
What might you spot in March?
After the long, cold nights of the Winter months, March signals the start of the Spring season. When out and about with your little ones, here are some of the signs of Spring you might be able to spot together.
With their early blooming season, wood anemones (Anemonoides Nemorosa) are a seasonal star (small and bright white, their petals really do make them look like a shower of fallen stars!), usually appearing before the leaf canopy has closed overhead. Wood anemones are known to be very slow-growing, only spreading around 6 feet per century, making them a sign that you are in very old woodland. In parts of Derbyshire, wood anemone is traditionally nicknamed ‘moggie nightgown’, with moggie being a pet name for mice. Can you imagine a tiny mouse wearing pyjamas made of anemone petals? To see these special spring flowers for yourself, why not take a stroll through Hull General Cemetery? You can find more information on the cemetery and the wide variety of wildlife you can find there on their website: The Friends Of Hull General Cemetery
At this time of year, nature also brings us a foraging feast in the form of wild garlic, or ramsons (Allium ursinum). This tasty plant likes to carpet shady wooded areas and is distinctive for its strong garlic-like smell. As an early spring flower (ramsons are best tasting before the appearance of their small white flowers), wild garlic is an important plant for pollinators and its presence is a sign that we may be in ancient woodland. You can find plenty of wild garlic (in addition to other early spring wildflowers) lining this circular woodland walk in Cottingham: Explore Jilly Wood circular (AllTrails).
Easy Wild Garlic Pesto recipe
(Recipe adapted from ‘foraging with kids’ by Adele Nozedar)
Ingredients
- 100 grams Wild Garlic leaves (washed and patted dry)
- 50 grams strong cheese (Parmesan or Cheddar will do nicely)
- 50 grams toasted pine nuts or cashews (optional)
- 1tbsp olive oil (optional)
- Season to taste
Method
- Add all ingredients (except the olive oil) to a blender and whizz to desired consistency.
- Add to pasta, cheese toasties or spread over pizza as an alternative to tomato! If wanting to store for later, transfer to a sterilised and airtight container and pour the tbsp of oil over the top where it should keep for a week.
A note on foraging for ramsons:
- Whilst there are some similar-looking, non-edible plants which could be mistaken for wild garlic, they do not share the distinct garlicky aroma that this plant emits! If in doubt, follow your nose.
- Take only what you need, leave plenty for fellow foragers.
- Use scissors or a pen knife to cut the leaves 1-2 inches above the ground.
March’s nature connection activity – Nature journey wands
For this activity, you will need:
- A sturdy stick (wand-sized)
- Something to secure your finds to the stick (elastic bands, hairbands, a piece of string).
Go on a walk! This could be around your local estate, a park close to where you live or on a day trip somewhere further away. This activity is great for exploring and noticing how nature shows up in urban, rural and coastal areas.
As you explore, collect any loose natural specimens you notice around you and secure them to your stick. You might find feathers, leaves or flowers. Once your wand or your walk is complete, take a close look at your wand. What kinds of things have you collected over the course of your journey? Can you tell the story of your wand?
PGP Hull Diary: What’s happening next?
Spring Event: The PGP Hull team are in the process of planning our Spring event, which will take place in the Botanic Gardens on the 25th of April. After the success of our Autumn event, we are looking forward to welcoming you all back for more nature-based storytelling, craft and play in our beautiful green space.
Earth Day celebration:On the 22nd April, we will be celebrating the Earth’s birthday down at the Botanics, joined by children and their teachers, we will be learning all about plants and the small creatures who live in the garden.
London Marathon mini:On the 30th of April, we will be hosting the launch of the Hull Mini Marathon event. We will invite local settings and schools to join us with their children and learn how to get involved.
Maternal Mental Health Week Picnic:We will be hosting a picnic for Maternal Mental Health Week beginning on the 9th May in collaboration with Together in Nature. Keep your eye on our website for more information.
References:
Nozedar, A. and Harper, L. (2018). Foraging with kids: 52 wild and free edibles to enjoy with your children. London: Nourish, an imprint of Watkins Media Limited.
Leave a Reply