Wingate Wood...

After weeks of cold, wet weather, a sudden April heatwave has finally kick-started Spring.  The bluebells are just starting to come into their own...

The beech trees are starting to leaf up...

The oaks are a bit behind...

In some places, the bluebells and yellow celandines make a colourful contrast...

To Luddesdown....

Dropping down from Wingate Wood and slogging up the other side of the valley following public footpath NS214 leads to Wrenches Shaw, overlooking Luddesdown.

The recent wet weather has allowed the Cuckoo flowers to put on a good show...

Primroses are also very much in evidence...

Blackthorn (sloe) blossom is also at its best...

The views towards Luddesdown and Cobham from the edge of Wrenches Shaw by Bassett;s Seat (see below) must rate as some of the most spectacular in North Kent.  Despite the recent heavy rains, the past few days of warm weather have given the freshly-ploughed fields a prairie-like appearance...

View from Wrenches Shaw towards Cobham church...

View from Wrenches Shaw towards Luddesdown church...

A memorial bench has been thoughtfully placed on the edge of the field next to a little strip of woodland known as Wrenches Shaw. Overlooking the valley, it allows those who appreciate this spot to take a well-earned rest and enjoy the views...

Bassett's Seat

First Orange Tip of 2018...

Sunshine (at last!) in my garden today. This brought out a male Orange Tip butterfly (with the bright orange patches on the fore-wing) checking out the primroses. Orange Tips spend the winter as pupae, emerging when the winter is finally over. They are usually the first of the non-hibernating butterflies to be seen in the spring...

Male Orange-tip butterfly...

The females lack the orange tips. I saw a female a bit later on, along with a solitary Peacock, a Red Admiral and a few Brimstones (mostly the bright yellow males, with a couple of the pale green females). Spring is finally springing...

Cuxton to Luddesdown via Bush Road...

Still too muddy to walk through the woods, but it was a nice day and there was plenty to see in between dodging cars....

First Small Tortoiseshell in 2018 for me...

There were dozens of Brimstones on the wing in the sunshine, and one finally settled for long enough for a picture...

Brimstone on celandine...

Celandines, Lower Bush...

Dog's Mercury, Lower Bush...

Speedwell, Lower Bush...

Dog Violets, Luddesdown

Wood Anenomes, Luddesdown...

Purple Dead-Nettle, Luddesdown...

Oak, Warren Road, Luddesdown...

St. Michaels and All Angels churchyard, Cuxton...