Everyone across the country is invited to watch out for the first appearance of six key species in their region to help scientists understand how spring is changing and what needs to be done to help wildlife thrive in the UK.

Over the past 30 years, biologists have discovered that spring is arriving earlier. Trees have been coming into leaf sooner, migrant birds are arriving earlier, frog spawn is being spotted before Christmas, while comma and holly blue butterflies have been sighted as early as March.

The findings of the Springwatch survey show how all of us can help wildlife cope with changes in the seasons by making simple pledges such as planting trees, installing bird baths and putting up bumble bee boxes.