The old saying that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb has held true this year, with the month ending in sunshine and blue skies. I don’t have a picture of the lion, but here is the lamb — delicate white blossoms and the fresh green of new leaves.

Spring’s renewal is everywhere. Tiny leaves are unfurling throughout the park, and these bright green shoots show the steady return of new life.

The glow of Forsythia stands out against the statue of Prince Albert, the park’s most striking landmark.

The Abingdon Bowling Green appears to have been been freshly seeded and new grass covers The Green. A scarecrow rainbow flag has been flying over the green, and so far, no footprints have touched its surface.

At the lower end of the park, Narcissi have been in bloom for weeks, joined by a few blue and white bells.

Near the park’s maintenance compound, a tall tree is white with blossom and buzzing with bees. Yellow butterflies flit about, and Peacock butterflies, like the one pictured here, settle to feed on the flowers.

Before we get any further through our year in the Albert Park, can I remind you of the Park Rules:
* No Golf Practice
* Dogs to be kept under full control – Kindly place foul   matter in bins provided.
* No fires, fireworks, or BBQs.
* No cars, motorcycles, or cycling.

Today, the last day of February, began foggy. A man on a mini tractor did the rounds, replacing litter bags in Albert Park, and helping keep order.

The Prince Albert memorial can be seen among the trees in this picture.

Christs Hospital of Abingdon, the charity that run the park, have a tree map and a list of trees at http://www.ch-of-abingdon.org/albert-park/natural-history/. From the map I can see this tree, much admired for its early blossom, is called Pissards Plum or Prunus cerasifera ‘Pissardii’ in Latin.

Lots of people walk in the park. St Michael and All Saints Church can be seen behind in this picture.

Robins are to be heard around the park, with their clear rapid song. Here is one near a less vocal but more aerobatic Blue Tit.

There are also magpies in the park. One for sorrow, two for …

After the fog, there were blue skies and sunshine. Crocuses opened.

Daffodils stood tall.

Conduit House (once used for conduiting spring water) and Trinity Church in Conduit Road can be seen in this picture near the park entrance. In older postcards there was a longer view, along the east path of the park, of Trinity but that sightline is now hidden by evergreens.

This year, I plan to visit Albert Park each month.

Albert Park is home to the Abingdon Bowls Club, whose neat lawn and clubhouse sit on one side of the park. Early this month, snow briefly settled on both the roof and the lawn. The clubhouse remains active, with members gathering on some days to enjoy indoor bowls.

A highlight of the park is the collection of trees. Among them is a Holm Oak, with bifurcating trunks and an enormous, rounded crown. The park hosts a great variety of evergreens, including cedars, cypresses, firs, yews, hollies, and monkey puzzle trees.

There are also towering Wellingtonia trees, which stand at approximately 30 meters tall.

The park is encircled by a wide, well-maintained path, lined with occasional benches and bins. This path provides a route for walkers and joggers, although many opt to cut across the grass at the centre with their dogs.

A striking feature of the park over the past year — and continuing into this one – is the abundance of squirrels.  I’ve managed to capture six in this picture.

Daffodils are beginning to emerge near the bowls club entrance, although strong winds often leave them battered. The flower of the month is the snowdrop, adding whiteness and brightness under the trees.

Flowers are generally scarce in the park since the flower beds were removed years ago to reduce maintenance costs, and the grass is kept trim. Although some area of grass may well be left wild. We will see.

Albert Park is managed by the Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon charity. Notices at the entrances have recently advised caution due to strong winds. Rain has left its mark, with puddles reflecting the statue of Prince Albert and little streams running down the paths — a reminder of the springs that once bubbled up before this was a park. The springs were channelled along Conduit Road as a water supply to the houses on Ock Street.