Beltane, the high point of Spring growth, has passed. And suddenly, it feels different - winter dormancy is over and vibrant spring growth is everywhere.

Most of the trees are now in leaf, each with its distinctive shade of green. The swallows and martins are back. And the verges, hedgerows and woodland floors are bursting into colour as wildflowers thrust themselves into the strengthening sun. 

We've finished lambing now and its great to see the ewes enjoying the fresh grass and the lambs gambolling through the fields. Much of our attention has been focussed on the market garden - its a busy time getting the beds ready and planted up as in our short growing season every day of sun counts. We've taken our first harvests of over-wintered brassicas, early salad crops and a precious few spears of asparagus.

The long month of March lurches between winter and spring in huge, erratic strides. Longer days, stronger sun and even moments of warmth are interspersed with bitter winds, biting rain and winter clart. But the signs are clear that Spring is ascendant. Our oystercatchers have returned from the coast and fly noisily over the farm, the piping of curlews hangs in the early morning mist and on sunny days queen bumble bees are out looking for nest sites. The primroses and celandine are in flower and the first buds of hawthorn are tentatively opening into leaves. There’s a subtle but unmistakable hint of green slowly spreading over the land as life wakes up.

On the farm, our attention is shifting from the winter planting of trees and hedges to the imminent growing season. The greenhouse is filling with seedlings and soon we’ll have lambs leaping around the fields as the cycle of life begins again. Its an invigorating time of the year that inspires optimism and reassurance in an otherwise uncertain world.