ST David's Day, March 1, would have seen the third annual planting event by schoolchildren at The Centenary Glade in Queens Wood near Kempley.

The "golden triangle" area is known for its wild daffodils and other rare plants and also fungi.

But Covid restrictions meant the planting could not happen this year.

However, for Chris Bligh of Dymock Forest Rural Action, the area can still be enjoyed, and should be enjoyed.

He said: We can still celebrate that nature is enduring in the time of Covid. The beautiful display of wild daffodils and the follow-on spring chorus of ancient woodland flora will still be blooming wonderful.

"Even though lockdown restrictions have prevented volunteer activity of the habitat management areas for a whole year, through the great good fortune and support of the stakeholder groups the beauty spots have been readied in time for lockdown-safe exercise and enjoyment."

He added: "Throughout three lockdowns local families continue to exercise and extend their home-schooling activities by walking in the Dymock Forest special woodland areas. Nature sightings have been a common source of connection for visitors from the nearby market towns of Newent, Ross and Ledbury to be reviewed on the many WhatsApp and FB pages that have been established. The competition for the first flowering daffodil photo won Dave McGregor of Chiblers Hill a bottle of prosecco. The date? It was the earliest on record, February 2. As a child in 1960s Cardiff I remember we wore leeks (Shakespeare's Welsh national symbol) to the school Eisteddfod on St David's Day because the daffodil, the national flower, rarely bloomed by March 1."

This may be yet another example of climate change.

Mr Bligh said: "The expectation is already rising to cycle the Newent Loop, and walk the footpaths - 10m wide swathes of the verges from Oxenhall to Gorsley, Kempley to Dymock and along the Leadon Vale, have been mown for another very welcome year of golden daffs, bluebells and white wood anemones. These species expand their territories only slowly - explaining how they are mainly found in ancient woodland and its connecting wildlife corridor hedgerows."