March in Particular

Early March

Celandines - Oxford is the greater celandine's heartland, it grows eveywhere in this anciently stony city, at the edge of car parks, on old walls, in cloisters. Look out for its bright flowers singing back to the sun before the trees come into leaf and cast their shade (see Flora Britannica).

Wild Daffodils - The Daffodil Way is 10 mile footpath through the Windcross Parishes in NW Gloucestershire - wild daffodils once grew in such profusion here that they were picked and sent to market. Lascelles Abercrombie wrote "From Marcle Way, from Dymock, Kempley, Newent (see image below), Bromsberrow, Redmarley, all the meadowland daffodils seem running in golden tides to Ryton Firs". Kempley has a Daffodil Weekend (on 19/20 March in 2005), a fund raising event featuring guided walks and exhibitions. More details can be found on their web-site.

As part of the Way, Daffodil Teas are available in March April at Kempley, Oxenhall and Dymock. (A map/leaflet - from which the above Abercrombie quote has been extracted - can be bought from Ross-on-Wye TIC for 50p plus stamped addressed envelope - +44 (0) 1989 562768).

Though, not in such profusion, there are still daffodils to be seen here and woods, orchards, ponds and streams. Look out for them in the central reservation of the M50.

At Butley Woods, Suffolk, the wild daffodils rival those "beside the lake beneath the trees". See them also on a 2 mile walk along the River Teign, Dunsford, Devon.

Also: Gowbarrow Park, Ullswater, Cumbria; Daffy Wood, nr Chelmsford, Essex; Lesnes Abbey Wood, Kent; Elchin Wood nr Elmsted, Kent; lane banks between Horsham & Dial Post, Fittleworth & Plaistow, and Ashdown Forest, in W.Sussex (also Thakeham, and Frenchlands nr Steyning); Daffodil Weekend, Cotehele Gardens nr Saltash, Cornwall - daffodil meadow containing hundreds of cultivated varieties once grown in the Tamar Valley by market gardeners. Cotehele Gardens (NT), St Dominick, nr Saltash, Cornwall PL12 6TA (+44 (0) 1579 351346); (see Flora Britannica).  

Read about CUSTOMS AND PLANTS

Elver Fishing starts on the River Severn (In Somerset and Gloucestershire) with the spring tides until April 25

Trent Aegir - River Trent, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire- this tidal bore occurs throughout the year. Some of the strongest bores of the year are often in March. Look at the Environment Agency web-site for annual predictions, or call +44(0)845 9333111.

Wisbech Mart, Cambs - held between 6-13 March in 2004. Find out more about English fairs at the Showmen's Guild web-site.

Mid-March

St Patrick's Day 17th March

Vernal Equinox - Spring begins (HM Nautical Almanac Office)on 20/21st March

Kiplingcotes Derby, Third Thursday in March; Noon, South Dalton, E.Yorks - possibly the oldest horse race in the world, dating from 1119. It starts at an old sandstone post a mile north of the old railway station (the post is marked on maps). Riders are weighed in at 11am (must have body weight of 10 st plus or wear weights), then the derby runs through country roads near the villages of Middleton and Warter. Susan Hullaby, Clerk of the Course, +44(0) 1482 651 207.

Mothering Sunday - The fourth Sunday in Lent. This may have come from the old custom of people returning to the parish of their birth to pray at their mother church on this day. Traditionally it was a holiday for apprentices and servants, so they could visit their mothers and take them gifts of Simmel Cakes and posies of violets and primroses collected on the journey.

Oranges & Lemons Service, St Clements Danes, Strand, London - childrens service at 1.30pm where the 'oranges and lemons' rhyme is read and the fruit are given out. The carillon rings out at 9am, noon & 6pm. St Clement Danes Church (+44 (0) 207 242 8282)

EASTER can fall on any day between 22nd March and 25th April. Look here for EASTER CUSTOMS AND EVENTS

Stamford Mid-Lent Fair, Lincs- A 13th century fair that still occupies the centre of the town towards the end of March. Find out more about English fairs at the Showmen's Guild web-site.

Lady Day, 25th March

Tichborne Dole - A field in Tichborne Park near Alresford, Hants is called The Crawls after the efforts of Lady Tichborne for the poor of the village. In the 12th century she, a near cripple, begged her husband to look after the needy of the village after her death. He promised to give the yield of all the land she could circle before a lit torch burnt out, and was surprised that she returned having dragged herself around 23 acres. A curse that if the dole was stopped the name of Tichborne would die out and the house become ruined is still taken seriously and flour from a local mill is given to pensioners on Lady Day.

Lady Day itself is celebrated in honour of the Virgin Mary as this day, nine months before Christmas, is the day of the Annunciation from the Archangel Gabriel that she would bear Christ. In the Twelfth century Lady Day was considered the first day of the year and persisted until the official calendar change of 1752.

Late March

Grantham Mid-Lent Fair, Lincs- Like its counterpart at nearby Stamford, this medieval fair is still held in the streets of the town centre towards the end of March. Find out more about English fairs at the Showmen's Guild web-site.

Severn Bore, River Severn, Gloucestershire and Somerset - this tidal bore occurs throughout the year. Some of the strongest bores of the year are often in March. Look at the Environment Agency web-site for annual predictions, or call +44(0)845 9333111.

Blossom Trail, between Worcester and Evesham, Worcestershire - March or April are the best times of year to see white plum and damson blossom depending on the spring weather. Followed a couple of weeks later by white and pink apple blossom. The vale of Evesham and surrounding area was once predominantly a plum growing area but apple growing is now on the increase. Much of the blossom can be seen in the hedgerows where varieties were planted for pollination and where trees have grown from discarded plums stones and apple cores. Telephone +44 (0) 1386 565373 for a copy of the Blossom Trail leaflet and map, or see the Worcestershire Heritage Gardens web-site for more information. See another event in Worcester in May.

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