Young hazel catkins

This was an exciting discovery for me. Before snowdrops, before crocuses and daffodils, there is life beyond my window. There are lots of young trees on the steep embankment, and thankfully they haven't been savagely topped this year (So far.) Many seem to be hazel. Eventually we might be able to harvest the nuts. They are hard to get to though. Maybe I could send a child up. They climb up the slope anyway,