Bees and other insects have been encouraged by rising temperatures to make an appearance in recent days giving us all a taste of warmer days to come.

%image(15280091, type="article-full", alt="Fields in Burgh Suffolk. Picture: JULIE KEMP")

Temperatures have risen over the last week, with highs of 18C recorded in parts of East Anglia as we waved goodbye to March and welcomed in a new month.

But even though we are officially in spring, this week’s April showers and below average temperatues are a reminder that we are not out of the woods yet.

The warmer weather has encouraged flowers into bloom - with snowdrops spotted at Hedingham Castle as early as February.

This gallery shows how local photographers and walkers have captured some of our countryside over the last few days - with brightly coloured daffodils, green grass and dogs out enjoying the early spring sunshine.

%image(15280093, type="article-full", alt="Blossom in Christchurch Park, Ipswich. Picture: GEORGINA GALLANT")

When did spring start?

On Wednesday, March 20, the spring equinox arrived and marked the first astronomical day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The spring equinox, which is also known as the March equinox, happens on or around March 21 each year, when the sun moves north across the celestial equator.

The equinox officially marks the turning point from the nights being longer than the days to days being longer than the nights.

These equinox’s occur twice yearly, once in March to signal the beginning of spring, and the autumnal equinox arrives late in September.

%image(15280094, type="article-full", alt=""Tickle my chin" at Baylham Rare Breeds Farm in Suffolk. Picture: NICK WILLIAMS")

Share your photos here to be featured in our gallery.

%image(15280095, type="article-full", alt="Two dogs enjoying the spring weather in Bredfield, Suffolk. Picture: SOPHIE POPE")

%image(15280096, type="article-full", alt="Blossom at Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm in Ipswich. Picture: NICK WILLIAMS")

%image(15280098, type="article-full", alt="The sun setting in Kesgrave. Picture: DAN GROOVE DRAKE")

%image(15280100, type="article-full", alt="The Orwell Bridge in Suffolk. Picture: NICK WILLIAMS")

%image(15280102, type="article-full", alt="Christchurch Park in Ipswich. Picture: HARRIET MEE")

%image(15280104, type="article-full", alt="A bee on blossom in Burgh, Suffolk. Picture: JULIE KEMP")

%image(15280106, type="article-full", alt="Oil seed rape in blosson at Burgh, in Suffolk. Picture: JULIE KEMP")

%image(15280108, type="article-full", alt="Spring has sprung in Suffolk. Picture: DAN GROOVE DRAKE")

%image(15280109, type="article-full", alt="A tree in blossom in a garden in Harwich, Essex. Picture: ANNA MATRONIC")

%image(15280110, type="article-full", alt="Gardens in Stowupland. Picture: SARAH EVERETT")

%image(15280112, type="article-full", alt="Gardens in Stowupland. Picture: SARAH EVERETT")

%image(15280113, type="article-full", alt="An edited photograph of a daffodil in Needham Lakes. Picture: NICK WILLIAMS")

%image(15280114, type="article-full", alt="A carpet of purple flowers pictured in Martlesham Church Yard in Ipswich. Picture: KATE TRETHEWEY")

%image(15280116, type="article-full", alt="Woodbridge River Wall. Picture: KAREN CALEY")

%image(15280117, type="article-full", alt="A squirrel was captured by Steph Goodwin in Bury St Edmunds Abbey Gardens. Picture: STEPH GOODWIN")

%image(15280119, type="article-full", alt="Bury St Edmunds looking colourful in spring 2019. Picture: SARAH PLAMPIN")

%image(15280120, type="article-full", alt="Bramford river. Picture: GEORGINA GALLANT")