Spring still flitting along merrily and I, (after weeks of expectant pacing) am able to bring you the news that our tadpoles are hatching and taking their first tentative wriggles into the bigger world of their purpose dug ponds.

The above picture, (taken by Allan Neilson) shows the recently liberated tadpoles feeding on their energy rich egg-sacs. The urge to string-up a jam jar, gather my net and relive the forever sunny, halcyon days of my distant youth is almost overwhelming! I have it on good authority that both mother and infants are fairing well and that she has no favorites, loving them all equally!

Strange to think that these muddy brown 'heads on tails' gradually transform in to the beautiful adult pictured below. Witnessing that metamorphosis is just one of the magical natural shows to savour as spring slowly unfurls.