THE appearance of snowdrops and daffodils are a tell-tale sign that spring is here.

According to the Met Office, the first day of the Meteorological spring fell on March 1 this year while the first day of the Astronomical spring fell on Monday (March 20).

However, as the seasons vary in length, the start of the new season can fall on different days each year which is why we often rely on other indications telling us spring has finally sprung.

The changing seasons are evident in the colour changes and growth in our gardens and, of course, the lighter nights.

A slight top up in the temperature also beckons us to wear less layers, but I’m always conscious of the popular proverb I recall my late great Grandma reciting - ‘Ne’er cast a clout till May is out’ meaning don’t take off your winter clothes until Summer arrives. Wise words indeed and ones I still hold dear.

Although the winters seem to be milder than in previous years and certainly with less snow, spring is a season many look forward to.

Adjusting our clocks we are reminded that we ‘spring forward’ for British summertime and ‘fall back’ for Autumn.

The arrival of spring gives us the welcome opportunity to escape the gloom of the long dark nights and embrace the great outdoors once again.

Gardeners, eager to get out into their green spaces, can start nurturing and tending their blooms to create a beautiful palette of colour to enjoy throughout the summer months.

Wildlife will once again wake up to the reality that the world which has been cloaked in dark and grey hues is suddenly bright again, almost like a light has been switched on in their habitat.

And homes can be given that much needed spring clean - this tradition of cleaning the house from top to bottom comes at a time of year when, ironically, families tend to spend more time outdoors than in compared to the winter months when the comfort of a warm and cosy home confines many indoors.

Spring is also the countdown to Easter - an important ecclesiastical occasion most associate with the sharing of chocolate Eggs and other associated gifts. It is also the first Bank Holiday of the year when families, who may live distances apart, can come together again following their previous Christmas reunion and enjoy spending time relaxing and catching up and doing things they like to do.

Exploring the great outdoors is the perfect way to spend that time and appreciate the rural landscape and scenery around us.

Taking a picnic to the local park would have been a popular pastime, and still is, but such simple traditions aren’t so appealing for those who are seduced by the competition, the alternative destinations and distractions such as theme parks and multiplexes.

So it is with such a refreshing change that we can take a look back at those simple pleasures in life in the days when families were content with making their own fun, relaxing and savouring the entertainment at the local park.

Looking back in the T&A archives, our librarian Odele Ayres has found a range of images depicting the popularity of park life.

From young ones savouring picnics in the local park the spectating of bowling matches and model speedboats racing across the water to the more unusual ‘bridge swinging’ - a scene captured in Bingley’s Myrtle Park in the 1950s.

Despite researching this activity I’m still not sure what ‘bridge swinging’ was about, but the photo appears to suggest it was some sort of occasion judging by the smartly dressed crowd.

Perhaps it was a ceremonial opening of a bridge - a small boat is tethered below. Perhaps there is a reader out there who will know?

In the meantime, enjoy this refreshing snapshot of the simple pleasures of springtime.