Readers around the UK have been getting in touch after noticing blooming and blossoming ahead of time

our calloutSpring has come early in the form of blooming flowers and butterflies, according to readers around the UK who responded to .



Spring flowers in autumn, birdsong in winter: what a freak year for nature Read more

While enjoying an early bit of colour in window boxes, gardens and local wild spaces, many expressed concern that a warming climate was to blame.

Below are some of the pictures and stories we’ve been receiving through the project – you can see more and add yours here.



Facebook Twitter Pinterest Daffodils have been in bud since late December. Photograph: Rachel/GuardianWitness

Daffodils in Rachel’s garden in Cornwall have been flowering along verges since late December. “The image above was taken on 11 January 2018 in the village of St Tudy, North Cornwall. Snowdrops are everywhere; primroses too in sheltered spots near St Agnes on the north coast. The magnolia tree in our south facing garden has had buds growing since the end of last year.”



Facebook Twitter Pinterest Snowdrops in November. Photograph: Les/GuardianWitness

“This photo was taken in utter disbelief back in November and is the tip of the iceberg,” writes Brian, who lives in Torquay. “I’m aware the south coast is warmer than much of the rest of the British Isles, but wild snowdrops in November? I’m in my 60s, and this is a first.”



Facebook Twitter Pinterest Red Admiral butterfly on 30 January. Photograph: John Harris/GuardianWitness

Reader John Harris, a photographer at Capel Manor Gardens, Middlesex, sent the above image of an early season red admiral.

The species is more commonly seen from around March but is the UK’s most popular. In 2017, red admiral numbers were seen by the Big Butterfly Count to have thrived, so they might be looking forward to an even better 2018.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Flowers at the beginning of February on the Isle of Wight. Photograph: Sylvia Clare/GuardianWitness

“Almost everything is out now, from snowdrops to daffodils,” writes Sylvia Clare from the Isle of Wight. “My hellebores orientalis were especially weird this year, flowering from mid October through to a second fuller flush now – more than one of them too. In the picture above you can just make out the older fading blooms under the taller newer ones. I’ve seen them in December before, but never October.”



Facebook Twitter Pinterest Crocuses on 2 February 2018. Photograph: PaulAtLunch/GuardianWitness

These early crocuses surprised a reader in Stourbridge.



And Verna Evans was walking in York House Gardens on 8 February and saw this as a sign spring had come early.

“Iris in January?” asks a reader in Dumfries and Galloway. “Could the blue moon have anything to do with it? So many questions!”



Facebook Twitter Pinterest Daffodil sprouts? Photograph: Liyana Azmi/GuardianWitness

Liyana Azmi got in touch from Glasgow. “I was lucky enough to snap this photo on a rare sunny day at Glasgow University after a heavy snowfall the night before. I’m pretty sure those are daffodil sprouts and find it quite surprising to see them around the third week of January.”

