Total monthly rainfall: 54.5 millimetres. Maximum daily rainfall: 13 millimetres (7^th February).

This fell as snow between the 7^th and 10^th, and there was 100% cloud cover for 17 days for at least part of each day.

Maximum temperature on the warmest days was 15°C on the 23^rd,24^th, and 25^th. Maximum temperature on the coldest days was 0°C on the 8^th,9^th,10^th, 11^th, 12^th, and 13^th with overnight frost from the 7^th to 14^th when all ponds were partly or wholly frozen.

Only two wildflower species came into bloom during the month: dog’s mercury on the 22nd and lesser celandine on the 23^rd. This brings our monthly total so far to 12 flowering species.

Once again, no species of butterfly appeared during the month. However, on the 20^th we saw 3 brindled pug moths flying close together above brambles in the wood, and on the 24^th we found a spring usher moth which we disturbed from the woodland floor.

• 5th Feb - Moss patches in wood 5th Feb - Moss patches in wood
• 8th Feb - Red oak in snow 8th Feb - Red oak in snow
• 24th Feb - Lesser celandine 24th Feb - Lesser celandine
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Other insects to appear were a buff-tailed bumblebee in the garden on garrya (February 21st), and several honey bees on evergreen viburnum (26^th). We also found a solitary bee crawling on the floor indoors the same evening, and this we identified as a wool carder bee.

There were two new wild bird species to arrive this month – both seen in the wood. A pheasant was flushed out in the wood on February 5^th, and a song thrush appeared there on the 8^th.  The 5^th also produced a fine display of mosses on the woodland floor, and the 8^th a coating of snow round the red oak in our hedgerow.

The spell of freezing weather as we approached mid-month led to many hazel catkins turning brown on the 13^th. However, the few which survived by the 15^th released pollen, which should allow them to produce a small crop of nuts later in the year. On the 25^th, elder buds on the shrubs in our garden hedge began to open.