History lesson of two flowers

THERE will always be an argument over whether or not the snowdrop and the daffodil are native to Britain.

The snowdrop has the scientific name of Galanthus nivalis but it also has other more describably local names such as Snow-piercer, Maids of February and Candlemas Bells.

Candlemas Bells is also interesting because Candlemas is celebrated on February 2. It is certainly the earliest flower to bloom and can be seen between January and mid- March.

The plant certainly seems to have been introduced to Britain but nobody is prepared to say when. My guess is that it was introduced in Norman times, possibly the monks. The pure white flowers suggest purity and have the old name of Fair Maids of February.

Recent research is now suggesting that the snowdrop could have been a rare native plant but because of its religious significance was planted in herb gardens.

In Elizabethan times the word snowdrop was used for the first time. Its flowers do resemble the 'drop' of an earring. Whether it is native or not the snowdrop is one of the most welcome of all our flowers. It lets us know that although winter can still strike us hard, spring is not far away.

The daffodil is certainly native. In the old days Lancastrians called the flower cowslip because of its colour and churn, obviously relating to the colour of butter.

On May 1, 1871 the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote in his diary: "The bright yellow corolla is seeded with very fine spangles which give it a glister which makes it like a cloth of gold."

The poet's observation is of interest to us because it was written at the time Gerard Manley Hopkins was a priest at Stonyhurst School. Many of his best poems were inspired by his walks on the banks of the River Hodder.

The scientific name is Narcissus pseudo narcissus but the name daffodil is of great interest. It comes from the Greek Affodillus and was said to be the plant which thrived around the wet boggy meadows of the underworld. This belonged to Persephone, the Queen of Hell. Looking at the daffodils I would prefer to say that it should lead to the entry to heaven rather than hell.

Bird-watching on the Ribble

WE are very lucky in our area because we have some much cleaner rivers, especially the Ribble. Here are a few of my favourite spots:

1. The old packhorse bridge at Stainforth near Settle.

2. Another bridge at Paythorne.

3. The riverside footpath and seats at Ribchester.

I was in search of one of my favourite birds -- the goosander, an example of a saw-billed duck and the serrated edges of its bill enables it to get a firm grip on fish.

Not long ago the goosander (scientific name Mergus merganser) was mainly a winter bird in Lancashire but there are now more and more breeding records. I am delighted about this because it gives me the chance to have a careful look at the breeding behaviour.

The pair circle around each other and the male also dives under the female before surfacing like a torpedo.

The favourite nest site is in a hollow tree or in a hole of the river bank providing it is obscured by shrubs. Any number of eggs from seven to 16 are laid. The nest is lined with down and only the female incubates the eggs which take up to five weeks to hatch. Within a couple of days of hatching the ducklings go down to the water, some "parachuting" down from the tree hole.

During February to early April the Goosander can be seen on the Ribble and also on many of our East Lancashire reservoirs. Good hunting!