Spring Bulbs for Schools Investigation results

Since October 2005, school scientists across Wales have been keeping weather records and noting when their flowers open, as part of a long-term study looking at the effects of temperature on spring bulbs. The investigation...

This year, we are delighted to be teaming up with the Edina Trust who are funding the pots and bulbs and extending the range of the project to England and Scotland! 72 schools took part this year!

They posted their results on the web. Average flowering dates Weather records

The long term study… Our climate is changing and so are our seasons. Over the next years (and hopefully more) we want school scientists to show how climate change is affecting flowering times in spring bulbs. In the short term there is plenty for schools to study.

Huge thanks! Professor Plant would like to thank all of the school scientists that have sent in records this year! You are all Super Scientists!

Radnor Primary Brynhyfryd Junior School Bishop Childs CIW Primary School Eyton Church in Wales Primary School Ysgol Cynfran Ysgol Bodfari Each to receive Super Scientist Certificates Schools to be awarded with certificates:

Schools with special recognition: Gordon Primary School Laugharne VCP School Milford Haven Junior school Ysgol Iau Hen Golwyn Oakfield Primary school Windsor Clive Primary Prizes: certificates, herbs and salad seeds.

Highly commended schools: Prizes: Certificates, sunflower seeds, salad seeds & herbs. Channelkirk Primary Coleg Powys Ysgol Y Ffridd Ysgol Capelulo Lakeside Primary Maesglas Primary School Ysgol Clocaenog Ysgol Bro Ciwmeirch Ysgol Porth Y Felin Glyncollen Primary School Ysgol Pant Y Rhedyn Howell's School Llandaff Williamstown Primary school Ysgol Tal Y Bont Morfa Rhianedd Ysgol Deganwy

Runner's up: Christchurch CP School Saint Roberts Roman Catholic Primary School Sherwood Primary School St. Joseph's R C Primary (Penarth) Stanford in the Vale CE Primary School Woodplumpton St Annes C of E Primary Ysgol Nant Y Coed Prizes: £40 Amazon voucher to spend on gardening equipment.

Winners 2012 Westwood CP School in Wales Prize: Day trip to the National Slate Museum in Llanberis. Earlston Primary School in Scotland. Prize: Day trip to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. Fulwood and Cadley School in England. Prize: Day trip to the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.

Summary Here is a very brief summary of the results that we have observed since You can download the results to study them for yourself at

UK & Welsh data This year we welcomed schools from England and Scotland to take part in the investigation! For the 1 st time we have data from across the UK. I have produced two sets of data, one for Wales and another for the UK which compares results between different countries.

UK Results Summary

Which country was the warmest / coldest?

Which country had the most / least sunshine?

Which country had the most / least rain?

Flowers will open earliest in areas where it is both warm and sunny. Especially during the month of February.

As a result the flowers opened much earlier in England this year.

Download the results yourself to… Visit Make graphs & frequency charts or calculate the mean. See if the flowers opened late in schools that recorded cold weather See how temperature, sunshine and rainfall affect the average flowering dates. Look for trends between different locations.

Welsh Results Summary

Our records show that spring 2012 was warmer than in previous years. From November to January it was very warm but then February turned cold and March was exceptionally warm. Tymheredd cymedrig / Average temperature °C Tach / Nov Rhag / Dec Ion / Jan Chwef / Feb Mawrth / March Misoedd i gyd / All months

Since we began recording, temperatures generally became colder but 2012 is the warmest yet.

Hours of sunshine has varied greatly over the years, but 2012 had the least amount of sunshine.

As a result, the average flowering date was quite late compared to previous years.

Rainfall was also very low this year.

Welsh results table BlwyddynDyddiad blodeuo'r crocws Dyddiad blodeuo'r cenin Pedr Tymheredd (ºC) Oriau o haul Glawiad cymedrig YearCrocus flowering date Daffodil flowering date Temp (ºC)Hours of sunshine Average rainfall (mm) /03/201110/03/ /03/201112/03/ /03/ /03/ /03/201107/03/ /02/201114/02/ /02/201106/03/ /02/201119/03/

How does the weather effect flowering times in the daffodil?

The trend shows: As temperatures get lower daffodils flower later – but there are some exceptions.

What years don’t fit the trend? Ans: 2007 & 2012 Possible explanation: Although the temperature was at it’s highest in 2007 & 2012 the flowers opened quite late. This is likely to be because the hours of sunshine remained low until March that year.

The trend shows: As the hours of sunshine decrease daffodils open later – but there are some exceptions.

What years don’t fit the trend? Ans: 2011 & 2012 Possible explanations: Although there was little sunshine in 2012 the flowers didn’t open as late as 2006 & This could be because the temperatures was very high.

How does the weather effect flowering times in the crocus?

The trendline shows: Generally, as temperature get lower, crocus flowers open later – but there are some exceptions.

What years don’t fit the trend? Ans: 2009 & 2012 Possible explanation: Although the temperature in 2009 was quiet warm the flowers opened the latest. This is likely to be because the amount sunshine was quiet low that year.

The trend shows: Generally, when there is less sunshine the crocus flowers open later – but there are some exceptions.

What years don’t fit the trend? Ans: 2006 & 2011 Possible explanations: Although there wasn’t much sunshine in 2006 & 2012 the flowers opened quiet early. This is likely to be because the temperature was also quiet warm. Although there was lots of sunshine in 2011 the flowers opened late. This is likely to be because the temperature was the coldest recorded.

Finding a trend is quite difficult but some things are clear… The bulbs rely on both sunshine and warmth in order to flower. Our seasons are becoming more unpredictable as our world is getting warmer.

Download the results yourself to… Visit Make graphs & frequency charts or calculate the mean. See if the flowers opened late in schools that recorded cold weather See how temperature, sunshine and rainfall affect the average flowering dates. Look for trends between different locations.