Where have all the coltsfoots gone?

Lots of coltsfoot here in East Anglia.
It comes up in March in the same places every year.
It often grows in abundance in poor soil.
I love it because it's one of the first flowers to come up after winter.
Bluebells and the woodland flowers have taken over now.
I've taken some lovely photos of Oxslips - grows in woodland damp areas.

Durhamjen, thanks, they must have migrated north! I found a violet this morning on the grass verge. I brought a root from North Wales over 30 years ago. There were plenty each year in my front garden until a well meaning neighbour thought they were deadly nightshade and dug them out ...!!

No shortage of coltsfoot on the fens. I'm constantly digging it out of my garden along with nettles, docks, burdock and comfrey.

#neverendingbattle

My grandchildren get fed up of me asking them what the difference is.
"You ask us that every year, Granny."
"Do you still remember?"

Same here DJ - just love the sight of them.

Lots of cowslips on the old railway line near me. Oxlips as well.

We still have coltsfoot here in Northumberland. We still have wide open spaces and a small, well spaced population so wild flowers flourish. We are very lucky to live here even though one of the Lib Dem MPs, John Hemmings thinks England finishes at Hadrian's Wall!

Anyone seen cowslips? I can't remember when I last saw them.

Actually, I rather like the flowers, as they're one of the first bits of colour we get, but the leaves do take up a lot of room. I try to leave the flowers as long as possible on the grounds that the insects need all the help they can get in what is, so far, a cold spring here, but then pull them up before they seed too much. that's the plan, but as I am a fair-weather gardener, it doesn't always work

I've found them! They're all growing in my flowerbeds!! B*** it!!!

Ladybower is beautiful. It is my home from home. A fishing contact of mine was told that Ospreys have been seen in the area of Ladybower in the past few weeks. I can't say whether this is true or not but wouldn't that be wonderful? They have them at Rutland Water, so why not? Not good news for the fishery but I'm sure they can spare a few (the ones I don't catch, for instance!).

Coltsfoots, pompa. Although I agree it's not the best photo. I was just so excited to see some. It was beautiful at Ladybower yesterday.

Coltsfoot, yes? I was out at Ladybower a couple of weeks ago but was too busy looking for fish - I would have been better off looking for the flowers!! We had a walk today, and celandines, wild garlic and wood anemones everywhere; bluebells in the woods and patches of dog violets. No coltsfoot though! Lots of butterflies about too today.

OK Aprilgrace, give us a clue what you saw. If it's in the picture, it's lost on me.

There seems to be plenty of chickweed on my allotment! And guess what I saw today? Near the Ladybower Reservoir. It made my day!

From the Guardian Feb 2009:

Road salt can also damage, or even kill, trees and vegetation growing close to the verge, according to reports in Canada. And it can also impact on the health of migratory birds.

lots and lots of articles re salt damage on the internet.

Chickweed used to grow everywhere but much less common now.
Some wild flowers have increased here, like harebells, celandines and mallows.
Tiger moths and their stripy caterpillars gone, thrushes gone, hedgehogs nearly gone. TV is full of programmes on foreign wildlife and most people know nothing about our native species.

That's interesting, aprilgrace.
There is a lot more going on there at the moment, whole streets being built, a hotel, pub, windmill. You should check the website to make sure you do not go just before something new is opened.
On the other hand, tickets are valid for a year now, anyway, so you can go at least twice.

Maybe it's an excuse for a trip to Beamish- not been for years. My OH loves it. Bit off- topic but one of the cottages there was recreated from a cottage where his friend lived as a boy so he always finds it rather surreal.

Yes, that's the one.

I can imagine the resulting tobacco was better than ordinary, MrsEggy. What a great story! Interesting to know that I'm not the only one who hasn't seen them lately- there must be some reason. Looks like I need to go a bit further afield. Great picture shysal- brings back memories. And I'd forgotten about coltsfoot rock . Did it taste slightly aniseedy?

I really like those coltsfoot sticks. You can still get them at Beamish.

coltsfoot are still an important part of cough herbal teas here

A lot healthier, as well, MrsEggy, for you and your dad.

the Jura mountains, straddled over the Swiss-French border, are very similar to Derbyshire and Yorkshire Dales - real limestone and Dales country. Coltsfoot are everywhere at the moment- 1000s and 1000s.

Could it be the salt affecting them? Here everyone is equipped with snow tyres - and they grit but never salt anymore, as it wasaffecting biodiversity too much?