Total monthly rainfall: 55.5 millimetres. Maximum daily rainfall: 18 millimetres (4^th March).

Rain fell on eleven days of the month, and there were 20 days with 100% cloud cover for at least part of the day.

Maximum temperature on the warmest days was 23°C on March 30^th and 31^st. Maximum temperature on the coldest days was 7°C on 4^th and 5^th March. An unpleasant wind-chill occurred on the five days from the 7^th to 12^th March.

The cool cloudy weather meant that it was late in the month before spring wildflowers came into bloom. On the 25^th cuckoo flower and marsh marigold appeared beside the lake, to be followed on the 29^th by English bluebells in the wood and snake’s head fritillary by the garden pond. Ground ivy on the 31^st completed our monthly tally of 5 flowers, bringing our 2021 total so far to 17.

• 15th March - First catkins on goat willow 15th March - First catkins on goat willow
• 15th March - Shoulder stripe moth 15th March - Shoulder stripe moth
• 25th March - Marsh marigold 25th March - Marsh marigold
• 29th March - Springtime flowers at the bottom of the garden 29th March - Springtime flowers at the bottom of the garden
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Butterflies and moths were in short supply again this month. On March 29^th Susan spotted a male brimstone butterfly in the garden, while on the 31^st we found a peacock butterfly along the woodland edge. This is our second butterfly of the year. On the 15^th we found a shoulder stripe moth indoors, bringing our yearly moth total to 5.

Other insects included a red-tailed bumblebee lakeside on the 15^th, a bee-fly on lesser celandine (25^th), and a 7-spot ladybird lakeside on the 27th.

Other creatures we recorded were many small black spiders among dead leaves beside a reptile shelter next to our back woodland pond (9^th), plus 3 wood-mice and a common shrew beneath reptile shelters along the woodland ride (22^nd March).

During the month there were many signs of the progress of spring among our trees and shrubs:

Buds started to open on some of the hawthorn on March 5^th, dog rose on the 9^th, hornbeam (25^th), field maple and wild cherry (30^th), and horse chestnut (31^st).

New leaves started to appear on some elder on the 2^nd, hawthorn and dog rose (14^th).
Catkins were producing pollen by the 15^th on goat willow, and by the 20^th on poplar.

Blossom appeared on blackthorn by the 21^st, and on wild cherry by the 31^st.