By Catriona Davies
(Filed: 01/03/2006)
Large areas of Britain were covered in snow yesterday with warnings of more to come, but today is the first day of spring - according to the Meteorological Office. By tradition, spring has started on the night of March 20/21, the vernal equinox, when day and night are of equal length.
However, the Met Office said that it is easier for its record keeping to deal with whole months, making March, April and May the spring months, but that it was not seeking to change anything official.
Sir Nicholas Winterton, a Conservative MP, tabled a Commons question to John Reid, the Defence Secretary, yesterday asking "for what reason and on whose authority" the date has been changed.
Sir Nicholas said: "They may say that March 1 is the first day of spring - which it is not - but it certainly doesn't feel like it."
He was joined in his fury by other MPs. Stuart Bell, a Labour member, said: "Spring starts on March 20/21 and if the Met Office are not aware of this simple fact, it reflects a casual approach to facts, which is all too inherent today."
Bob Marshall-Andrews, another Labour MP, said: "What right have the Met Office to advance the seasons? Only the Prime Minister can do that."
Wayne Elliott, a Met Office spokesman, said: "It's nonsense to say that we have changed anything.
"Astronomically the first day of spring is March 21 but meteorologists use March 1 because it's easier to deal in whole months.
"In the South and Midlands, at least, you usually start to notice that things are changing in early March. The natural world is waking up and buds are starting to appear.
"Of course the weather doesn't always play ball and sometimes you get very mild days in February and wintery weather in March.
The icy winds, which brought heavy snow to parts of Scotland and eastern England, are expected to last for the rest of the week.
Happening here, too. Especially the willow, that's real noticeable, but all the trees are budding, and were in January when it was 30 below. Some of the branches are growing, too, which is noticeable since the shrubs were trimmed even last fall and are already irregular, besides where the moose munched on them.
While they're at it, why not round pie down to 3?
I wonder if my old girl friends, Daphne and Elaine from the UK are doing all right ?