Nature Watch with Ron Freethy

AS I write these notes the clocks have just been altered and spring is with us.

This is the time that we should all be thinking of heading for the countryside.

We should be searching for our first violets, primroses, cowslips and even bluebells. Wood anemones, wood sorrel, celandines and dogs mercury will also be gracing our woodlands and hedgerows.

But we will have to sacrifice these pleasures as foot and mouth disease continues to worry our hard-working farmers.

There are confusing messages coming from some politicians. My rule is simple -- keep out unless you are officially told that the area is safe.

This does not stop those of us who are interested in natural history from enjoying ourselves. I spent some time in a roadside layby collecting snails from crevices in a stone wall. I then identified the snails and then replaced them in the original position. Snails are fascinating animals and they are easier to identify than you might think because there are only about 90 species in Britain. We are only an offshore island and we do not have as many species of plant or animal as they have on the Continent. If we buy an expensive guide book of snails of Britain and Europe, the beginner will be confused by the large number of species which do not occur here. It is better to begin simply. In the letter of the week I mention a series of inexpensive books on butterflies. There is another in the series called Land Snails of the British Isles by AA Wardhaugh, published by Shire Publications at £2.50.

This series is made up of volumes each of 24 pages with line drawings in black and white and photographs in colour.

At that price it is possible to build up a reference library very cheaply indeed. Each book is written in plain language by experts in the field.

In the case of Land Snails, there is an introductory chapter describing the structure of snails and others describing classification and evolution, reproduction, diet and predators. The common British species are illustrated and a final section covers how to study and conserve snails.

I have set myself a task for the duration of the foot and mouth outbreak. I am going to walk less and study more.

The Shire books will be a great help and the series is a real bonus for those who love our fauna and flora.

The true identity of Peter's friends

PETER D Blackburn sent me two fascinating photographs which require comments.

Peter, from Blackburn, writes about a "butterfly found just hatched in my garage on the weekend of March 3. It was a bit dopey so I put it outside in the sun. Within five minutes it was flying around as if it was summer. Try as I might I have not been able to identify it. Can you help?"

Yes I can. This is an excellent photograph of a peacock butterfly. This is one of the most beautiful and exotic-looking of all British butterflies.

On the brownish-red velvety wings are colourful markings resembling the "eyes" on the tail feathers of the bird bearing the same name. The adult butterflies hibernate (often in garages) during the winter. They resume activity on sunny days during March or April and are soon searching for flowers rich in nectar. Peter's second photograph shows a family of roe deer which he has been watching, on and off, for about eight months. One of the deer has a broken leg that has been healed in a deformed state but the British Deer Society says it will be OK as long as it is still able to eat.

Obviously the British Deer Society is an excellent source of information. I have also seen deer injured by traffic and also by idiots who try to shoot them. It is amazing how well wild (and domestic) animals are able to cope with disabilities. A friend of mine in Scotland told me of a red deer hind which lived for four years with only three legs and was very agile. The roe deer is increasing rapidly in East Lancashire is a welcome sight in our countryside. Foresters, however, do not like deer because they damage valuable trees.

I have a question for them: "Which came first -- the deer or commercial forestry?" I agree with Peter Blackburn who asked me to keep the location of "his" herd a secret.