The ‘weed dance’ tops the county’s springtime delights

In the third of four ‘seasonal’ articles about the county’s natural history, Derbyshire photographer Tony Clarke unfolds ‘The Joys of Spring.’

SPRING LIFTS OUR SPIRITS. Those short, dark and often miserable winter days are over and Derbyshire’s plants and animals are ready to delight us with new growth and life. Our resident birds are often the first to tell us they think spring has arrived. Dunnocks, Chaffinches and Tits suddenly burst into song from prominent perches in our gardens and countryside. When they are joined by the melodious songs of migrating birds, such as Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats, we know for certain that spring is here…