While many of us are still clutching our hot drinks and debating whether it’s too early to turn off the heating, the first brave botanical residents of Wiltshire are beginning to stage their comeback.

If you’re looking for a reason to get out and to shake off the winter cobwebs, here is your guide to three beautiful blooms of early spring and where to find them.

Lesser Celandine

Often the very first sign that the sun has regained its strength, the Lesser Celandine is a great indicator for spring. Its heart-shaped, glossy leaves and star-like yellow petals only open when the sun is shining. If it's a gloomy Tuesday, they stay firmly shut.

Where to find them 

Look for them in the damp, shaded fringes of Smallbrook Meadows in Warminster, or carpeting the ground at Lower Moor Farm near Cricklade. They love riverbanks and hedgerows, making them a common sight along the Wylye Valley.

Wood Anemone

The Wood Anemone is the ultimate ancient woodland indicator. Because they spread so slowly - barely a few centimetres a year via their roots - a vast carpet of these delicate white flowers suggests that the woodland has been there for centuries. Also known as windflowers, they dance elegantly on thin, red stems in even the slightest breeze.

Where to find them 

Vincients Wood on the edge of Chippenham is a local treasure for anemones. You can also find breathtaking displays at Blackmoor Copse, southeast of Salisbury, and Ravensroost Wood near Minety.

Wild Daffodils

Don’t confuse these with the sturdy, neon-yellow giants in supermarket car parks. The true Wild Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) is a more delicate creature: smaller, with pale yellow outer petals and a deeper gold central trumpet. They are a rare treat, having declined significantly since the Victorian era.

Where to find them 

The crown jewel for wild daffodils is Oysters Coppice near Shaftesbury (just on the edge of the Vale of Wardour), where you can see them nodding on the slopes under the budding canopy.

Tips for your Spring Flower Spotting

Stick to the paths: These early bloomers are surprisingly fragile. Compacting the soil by stepping off the trail can damage the delicate roots of wood anemones.

Sunlight matters: Wood anemones and celandines are solar powered - they close up in the shade or on cloudy days. For the best photos, head out on a bright, clear morning.

Boot up: Wiltshire’s clay soil doesn't dry out until May. Most reserves will be muddy, so make sure you have your wellies handy. 

Our reserves are free to enter, though they rely on memberships and donations to keep these habitats flourishing - find out how you can help support these precious spaces. 

This spring, take the time to step outside and see how many of these three floral stars you can spot?