Record temperatures in complete contrast to the weather at this time last year have led to signs that spring has sprung much earlier than usual in the UK, and naturalists have expressed worry about what this means for the environment.

We asked you to share the signs where you are, and received thoughtful contributions and photographs from around the UK. After a warm weekend for much of Britain, Anna Markwell, in East Sussex, said: “It’s lovely, but worryingly mild.” Her sentiment was echoed in many of your stories; the flutter of butterflies and buzzing of bees is something to be savoured – but could their early appearance lead to environmental disaster? And could the need for an early antihistamine dose be the least of our problems in the coming years?

Below are some of your stories and photographs.

‘Climate change terrifies me’

Patrick Green was one of many readers to share concern in his contribution (which included the image at the top of this piece, taken in north London’s Clissold Park).

“The scenes are very beautiful, and I’m very pleased with the pictures I took on 22 February, but I know I’m seeing them too early: climate change terrifies me,” he wrote. “Politicians are in a permanent state of denial and seem oblivious to what is staring them in the face. The weather on our shared planet is changing in dangerous and unpredictable ways and the future of humanity is at stake.”

‘It’s way too early!’ Photograph: Petr Skapa

‘I am perplexed by the apparent public indifference’

Petr Skapa is also worried: “This wild plum tree grows alongside a public footpath where dog walkers, joggers, families with children and young couples are casually passing without even noticing it.

“I am perplexed by the apparent public indifference toward weather swings in the last 20 years. If the scientists are correct with their climate modelling, the swings are not only here to stay but are set to increase, causing havoc in living nature; forests, agriculture, everything will change, and not for the better. How this flowery demonstration of a trend toward a future laden with risks to water and food security doesn’t alarm everyone passing by is beyond me.”

Butterflies in February?

Several readers contacted us to say they had been surprised to see butterflies around already. It is unusual to see a red admiral so early, according to Butterfly Conservation, but Anne Davison saw this specimen on 22 February, resting on an Edgeworthia chrysantha bush in her garden near Stamford, Lincolnshire.

‘Watching the way they react is fascinating – but I’m concerned’

Many readers said they’d seen bees in the garden. Photograph: Julie Prescott

Bees were also early visitors to gardens and parks near many of you. “They are around pollinating crocuses and there are a lot more flowers around in general,” says Julie Prescott, echoing many fellow readers’ surprise and concern for the creatures. “It’s a big contrast to 21 February last year, which was very snowy here in Blyton, Lincolnshire.”

Gareth Todd Jones, who keeps honey bees in the Rhondda valley, south Wales, remembers nursing them through a cold early 2018 and is struck by the difference this year: “Watching the way they are reacting to February temperatures that are really too high is fascinating. Honey bees are the ultimate evolvers, but I can’t help but be concerned!”

‘Soft croaks on Sunday morning led me to the side of our garden pond’

February frogspawn. Photograph: Andy Bell

Andy Bell, in Burton upon Trent, sent this picture of frogspawn in his pond. Pools in Mark Palmer’s allotment in Ulverston, Cumbria, have also filled with spawn over the last week. “It is earlier by around two weeks than normal, perhaps because we have not yet had any really heavy frosts – being on the northern side of Morecambe Bay probably helps with sheltered weather.”

Veronica Love, in Dumfries and Galloway, shared a similar story. “Soft croaks on Sunday morning led me to the side of our garden pond where I watched two frogs mating – and a third trying and failing to muscle in. I expect frogspawn to appear soon, but it doesn’t stay long as the goldfish feast on it.”

‘These normally flower in April!’

Iris in bloom. Photograph: Helen Garland

Reports that the air is unusually perfumed this spring due to warm weather in 2018 are perhaps confirmed by Helen Garland, in Bristol. “These iris were inherited from my mother and my grandmother, and normally flower in April. They are a really old variety that have a scent, so it’s strange to see them already.”

Helen Evans, a reader in Ruthin, north Wales, notes down the first time she sees certain flowers each year. “I made a point of looking for violets on my walk on 23 February and did see a few growing next to a country lane. In 2016 the first violet was 12 March, 11 March in 2017 and 24 March last year.”

An early feast for some

Blossom near Victoria Park with a parakeet. Photograph: Courtney Hopf

“It’s been incredibly warm,” says Courtney Hopf, in east London, another reader to note record snowfalls this time in 2018. “I know [parakeets] are essentially invasive pests, but seeing that flash of tropical green in London always gives me a little thrill. This parakeet and three others were busily nibbling this tree’s blossoms for hours last Friday.”

‘Boatloads of the stuff’

Foragers among you have been enjoying early crops. John Kelly said he’d collected “boatloads of mature wild garlic” in Leeds over the last few days. Elizabeth, in Cardiff, said she’d been harvesting garlic for around three weeks, much earlier than usual.

Bagged-up wild garlic. Photograph: John Kelly