MANY hedgerows Somerset are flowering now for the first time in many years, giving us spectacular displays of snow-white blackthorn flowers.

Farmers are rewarded by the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Natural England for managing their hedgerows with the environment in mind.

This means not cutting them every year as only uncut hedges bloom.

Rob Wolton, from Natural England, said: "It is wonderful to see our hedgerows now covered in stunning displays of white flowers because so many farmers have opted into Environmental Stewardship.

"Not only has the spring landscape become even more beautiful, but the birds can look forward to bountiful berry crops later in the year.

"Blackthorn berries, known as sloes, follow the flowers.

"So we can look forward to a bumper crop of these big black fruits for the birds this autumn and winter, and to plenty of sloe-gin."

The blackthorn will be followed by May blossom, the name for hawthorn flowers, and once again our hedges will be white, although this time against a backcloth of green leaves rather than bare twigs as now.