Spring is in the air in Dunkeld and Birnam despite the polar vortex having split. There’s a lovely article from Loch of the Lowes, giving us excellent tips on what to look out for if we’re hunting for signs of new life. I never knew that different bird species spent such varied amounts of time building nests. It turns out Long Tailed Tits are very much the Homes and Gardens of the bird world spending at least three weeks building intricate nests before eggs can be laid. Who’d have known it? Not like the dreaded cuckoo who doesn’t bother to build a nest at all - just sitting around waiting for everyone else to do all the hard work.
The Horty Society continues the spring theme with a talk by John Mattingly, from beautiful Cluny Gardens, on ‘methods of propagation.’ That should be a real treat.
Meanwhile ‘The Bloomers’ have been busy planting bulbs so that we can enjoy some early spring colour. Look out for the newly planted tete a tetes in Torwood park. Up at the Field is also stirring back into life with people busy in the new poly-tunnel.
Why not get in tune with nature? Start with a bit of spring song of your own and join Just Singin’. Their new term gets underway on 6th February at the Institute...
So yes, irrespective of what is happening, polar vortex splitting or not, the year is getting going. If in doubt look up into the skies to see the geese, once again, heading North, and note, as you do, that the light is coming back. Congratulations to us all on the great water saving challenge– we’re doing well and are on track for our 1m litre saving by September. This month’s recommendation is to only fill our kettles with as much water as we need – and it saves energy into the bargain. Please do what you can to help.

Sally Robertson