Astronomial calendar

An almanac is traditionally defined as a 'calendar of the heavens' because it follows the four seasons through each solstice, equinox, moon phase, dawn and sunset, tide and Spring tides, local traditional events and folklore.

As we start to celebrate the awakening of Spring, dawn rose this morning at 6.51 am and our first sunset of the month will close the day at 7.49 pm. The weather will still be cold with up to 8 days of April Showers predicted this month with perhaps a few days of snow so remember to wrap up warm before going outside.

At the end of the month, dawn will rise exactly an hour earlier than at the beginning of the month at 5.51 am with the last sunset of the month closing the day at 8.33 pm bringing an extra hour of light in the evenings.

Here are some key events, dates and information to make a note of for April.

Moon phases

Thursday 6 April  - FULL PINK MOON in Libra

Thursday 20 April - NEW FLOWER MOON in Aries
 

Sunrise and sunset (Devon)

Wednesday 1 March - Sunrise (6.51 am) | Sunset (7.49 pm)

Tuesday 28 February - Sunrise (5.51 am) |  Sunset (8.33 pm)

In the garden

Tidying - leave the lawn to grow, trim the edges, remove invasive weeds, re-organise potting shed and greenhouse

Planting - sow seeds outdoors for Sweet Peas and for vegetables including Beetroot, Carrots, Swiss Chard, Summer Cauliflower, Kohl Rabi, Lettuce, Leeks, Radish, Turnip, Spring and Pickling Onions, Peas and Perpetual Spinach

Potatoes - plant potatoes at the bottom of a trench, mound soil over them and continue to mound them up as further growth appears - this encourages the most potatoes to form

In the hedgerows

Foraging - learn about the different wild plants, fruits and fungi you can collect for nutritional health and healing

In season - Alexanders, Beech Leaves, Bistort, Burdock, Chickweed, Comfrey Leaves, Dandelion, Fat Hen, Good-king-henry, Hawtorn Tips, Hop Tips, Nettle Tips, Orache, Rampion, Salad Burner, Sea Beet, Sorrel, Tansy, Watercress, Wintercress, Wood Sorrel

Edible Wild Flowers - Cowslips, Violets, Broom

In the markets

Vegetables - Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Carrots, Brussels Sprouts, Turnips, Beetroot, Spinach, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Chard, Lettuce, Chicory, Endive, Cauliflower, Cabbages, Celeriac, Swede, Leeks, Forced Rhubarb.

Herbs - Winter Savory, Parsley, Chervil, Coriander, Rosemary, Bay, Sage

Into the wild

As Spring spreads its energetic warmth across the land, get ready for your wildlife sightings to soar. Make a commitment to Rewild Yourself this season so that you can enjoy and benefit from Nature blossoming all around you as Winter melts away. Take in the radiant Spring colours, an abundance of wildflowers and new generations of wildlife on walks, in gardens and in all the places Nature is able to thrive.

Keep an eye out for Blue Tits, Great Tits, Blackbirds and Rooks who are already actively building nests using materials they have gathered for the purpose including moss, leaves, twigs, feathers and animal hair. 

Closer to nature

The main event to look forward to this month is the return of the Swallows, Swifts, House Martins and Sand Martins flying home from the warmer climes of Africa. They are here to raise their families during the Spring and Summer months so keep your eyes on the sky later in this month and listen for their matter-of-a-fact chatter as they delight you with their awe inspiring aerial acrobatics. Only these beautiful birds can master such sky-high moves with such elegance and precision whilse, of course, expertly catching insects as they go to feed their hungrey broods..

This is the time of year to step out into the natural landscape to experience the abundance of buds opening, flowers blossoming and trees growing their first tender trees. You will see shrubs, wild plants and roadside herbs growing taller by the day to take in the sunshine. Spending time outside enjoying the longer, warmer and sunnier days is a fabulous tonic for our general health and wellbeing.

Moon dates

Don't forget to make a date with the Full Pink Moon on Thursday 6 April and New Flower Moon on Thursday 20 April when you can tune into the beautiful lunar light energy for creative inspiration, motivation and taking action (full moon) or for reflection, replenishment and planning (new moon).

Keep an eye out for this month's new moon and full moon articles with information and guidance and I look forward to seeing you for another Almanac overview on 1 May 2023.