AFTER one of the coldest springs on record, East Lancashire has been soaking up the sun for the past few days.

Nature experts said wildlife was enjoying the warmer weather, with bluebells blooming and birds of prey thriving in the summer warmth.

But just weeks ago, snow flurried across the region, causing 16ft drifts in some parts.

Farmers reported newborn lambs and piglets being buried under the piles of snow.

Carl Hudspith, spokesman for the north west branch of the National Farmers’ Union, said business was slowly starting to recover.

He said: “Farmers are still catching up and are still very busy trying to bring grass in.

“Livestock will be mostly turned out by now, but it will have been delayed because of the late spring.

“We won’t know how it has affected businesses until the end of the year, but the more the weather picks up, the better the prospects are.

“If we have got a good summer, it could turn what would have been a very bad year into a half decent year.

“That is the best we could hope for.

“It was a terrible winter, but if we get a sustained period of good weather, then it could all turn around.”

Wildlife has also been enjoying the extra sunrays.

Alan Wright, from the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, said in places like Brockholes Nature Reserve, near Samlesbury, visitors could see birds like lapwings dancing around the skies.

He said there were around six sites near Clitheroe where peregrine falcons were nesting.

He said: “In the good weather, people get out more and they get to see more wildlife.

“When it is warm, you get more insects and so you can see lots of dragonflies and butterflies.

“In the evenings you are going to be able to see lots of birds.

“People at Brockholes will be able to see beautiful birds of prey because of the amount of food around.

“In East Lancashire, there are lots of woods where there are pied flycatchers.

“They have lost about 25 per cent of their numbers in the last 10 years or so, but we do get quite a few of them in this area.

“They come over from Africa, so they are really enjoying themselves at the moment, as are most of the region’s wildlife.”

Anna Izza, from Visit Lancashire, said she expected tourism to be boosted by the increased sunshine.

She said: “There is no denying that this warm spell has been a long time coming.

“But once the sun does come out, we can fully appreciate the sheer beauty of our great outdoors, and its benefits to our health and well-being.

“We have, in the Forest of Bowland, one of the country’s most incredible natural assets on our doorstep.

“The Festival of Bowland programme runs through the year and has something for everyone and every ability.

“Or, if you’re looking for something a bit different this weekend, you can have an archery lesson, marvel at some vintage steam engines, or even walk a llama in the Lancashire sunshine.”

  • THE warm weather is expected to continue into next week, forecasters predict.

The Met Office predicts sunny conditions will stay around until Monday, with temperatures peaking at 19C tomorrow (Sun).

But by Tuesday, more cloud cover is expected, with potential for some light rain in the afternoon.

The North West Ambulance Service has issued a warning to those planning to enjoy the weather to take extra precautions to make sure they stay safe in the sun.

Bosses said they were expecting a surge in 999 calls over the weekend as temperatures rose.

The organisation has issued advice, which includes wearing appropriate sun protection to avoid sunburn and sunstroke, to use barbecues responsibly and not to swim in lakes and rivers.

Director of emergency services, Derek Cartwright said: “We all want to enjoy the warm weather but no-one wants to spend a warm evening in an accident and emergency department.

“During the summer, we traditionally see a rise in the number of cases such as assaults and falls due to alcohol misuse and accidents with barbecues, so we would urge people to think carefully about what they are doing.”

He said there was a marked increase in the number of people experiencing respiratory problems, such as asthma, during periods of hot weather.

Mr Cartwright said: “Our services are urgently needed by those who are seriously ill or have life-threatening conditions and the public can help us by not calling 999 unless it is a serious emergency and by taking care of themselves and others.

“By keeping safe, we can all enjoy the summer, however, brief it may be, and we can ensure that those who really need our help can receive a timely response.”