I saw some violets in flower up the Welcombe.

Yes, we know the weather is unseasonal but to see violets in December must be unusual. I saw just a couple of these today in the woods overlooking the Welcombe Hotel.

I'm wondering what the effect of this prolonged mild spell will be. I suspect there will be winners and losers as is usually the case. It can't be bad for the birds, but the wet weather won't be good fro small mammals and as a consequence those that feed on them. Plants that bud may have those buds taken by the surely inevitable frost.