A month-by-month review of how our wildlife fared
n January
A wonderful winter for waxwings, making it the best for many years.
n February
Snowdrops continued to flower for an unusually long period, slowed down by the cold weather.
n March
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Hide AdBadgers and hedgehogs suffered from a shortage of worms and there was little food around for dormice coming out of hibernation, although these recovered later in the year and mostly went on to have successful seasons.
n April
A difficult time for nesting birds and returning summer migrants as food was in short supply due to the late spring.
n May
Bluebells were delayed by almost a month, not reaching their peak flowering until mid-May, whilst daffodils persisted well into May.
n June
A welcome break to the cold, with a 10-day fine spell early on.
n July
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Hide AdButterflies appeared from nowhere, with a spectacular emergence of purple emperor in the woods.
n August
A very rare migrant butterfly, the long-tailed blue, established breeding colonies. Cabbages were riddled with holes from myriad cabbage white caterpillars.
n September
The cold spring and hot summer helped to produce some of the sweetest and most colourful apples for years, although it was the latest crop since 1985.
n October
Fieldfares and redwing appeared early.
n November
There was an abundance of most autumn berries, fruits, seeds and nuts in November, especially rowan berries. Deer in parks entered into the rut and winter well fed.
n December
Plenty of holly berries for Christmas. A great year for mistletoe with an abundance of berries.