For a month famous for April showers, an amazingly low 5 mm was recorded here. Only 7 days produced any measurable rain, with 1.6 mm falling during the 24 hours ending on the morning of 27th April. Increasing evaporation and transpiration at this time of year has left pond levels even lower than they were last month. Maximum daytime temperatures ranged from a very warm 22⁰ C on the 9th to a raw 10⁰ C on the 26th. There were dense fogs on the 2nd, 3rd, and 8th; a strong wind-chill on the 17th and 18th, and sharp overnight frosts on the 19th and 27th, the former of which appears to have wiped out much of our Victoria plum crop for the year, and the latter to have set back our potato crop! 

February’s rainfall was a moderate 47 mm, but this still left our ponds about 30 cm below normal levels for the end of the month. Our maximum daily recording over a 24-hour period produced 10 mm on the morning of the 28th. Maximum daily temperatures ranged between 2⁰ C on the 11th, and 15⁰ C on the 20th. A cold snap from the 8th to 13th produced light snow-flurries on the 11th, and saw the return of the solitary fieldfare to our garden for its helping of apple chunks, but it quickly moved on. There were fresh to strong winds from the 22nd to 27th around Storm Doris on the 23rd.

Rainfall in January was comparatively low for the time of year, producing only 40.5 mm during the month. Our highest daily rainfall was 13 mm, recorded on the morning of the 30th, but there was no recordable rainfall between the 17th and 28th. This still leaves our pond water-levels unusually low for the end of January. Maximum daytime temperatures ranged between 0⁰ C on the 26th and 11⁰ C on the 8th and 11th.  Ponds were partly frozen from the 3rd to the 6th, and almost totally frozen from the 11th until a thaw set in on the 28th.  All ice was completely melted by the 31st.