Spring Has Sprung

by Shane Foster

Spring is definitely in the air. The weather is getting milder, and the spring showers have begun. The daffodils are blooming and the sound of birds is now filling the air. As you can tell, I really do love this time of year!

Of course, it’s not spring everywhere in the world. Whilst here, and in many other places in the northern hemisphere, we are enjoying the start of a season that leads into warmer weather, longer days and a chance to get back in the garden, on the opposite side of the world in the southern hemisphere they are now in the start of autumn - and I hope they enjoy it.

One of the great things about spring is the equinox, when we are provided with equal amounts of 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night. This lengthening of the amount of daylight is caused by a change in the earth's axis which means its orientation changes in relation to the sun, thus allowing us more sunlight whilst decreasing the amount of sunlight on the opposite side of the world.

Also, what makes it even better is when we move into British Summer Time (BST), meaning daylight lasting longer into the evening. Which reminds me - don’t forget to move your clocks forward 1 hour this weekend, as BST begins in the early hours of Sunday 26th March.

But where does this changing of times come from, and what is its purpose? The current time change always takes place on the last Sunday in March each year, but its origins date back to the early 20th Century. 

British Summer Time was established in 1916 with the introduction of the ‘Summer Time Act’, following a campaign to make better use of daylight hours during the summer months, making it more beneficial for recreation time and to reduce lighting costs. It also helped to reduce coal usage and to boost wartime production, a move that was adopted by many countries.

During the second world war the UK adopted British Double Summer Time (BDST) where the clocks were not put back at the end of summer in 1940, so when they went forward in spring 1941 the clocks were then 2 hours ahead of GMT.

This helped further with reducing energy costs and boosting production during the war, and this use of BDST remained in place until July 1945 when the clocks were taken back 1 hour to normal BST, and then back to GMT at the end of the summer.

The term ‘spring’ derives its name from the flowers springing up from the ground, and the animals waking from hibernation and springing into life. This creates that wonderful sense of ‘feel good’ that always comes about at this time of year, as we head into a season of festivals and celebrations.

One of the great things I love about this time of year, apart from the festivals and getting out and enjoying a cheeky drink in the evening, is the opportunity to have a spring clean in my crossdressing wardrobe.