AS you walk through the greener parts of our beautiful city it's worth looking out for the humble celandine. I saw one this week as I made my way across a patch of scrubby woodland on the banks of the River Exe. Against a silver-brown backdrop of frosted leaf litter there shone a little splash of yellow – a celandine flower. It warmed my heart on a cold winter day.

Lesser celandines, to give the plant its full name, are one of the earliest flowers to bloom each year. In February, when we are still waiting for temperatures to rise, the celandine makes its move. Stealing a march on its competitors the plant uses the gradually lengthening daylight hours to absorb what there is of the sun's energy. It grows and then shows off its delicate yellow bloom to a waiting world in need of some colour.

When spring does arrive the celandine is soon put in the shade by other wildflowers, grasses and the closing over of the tree leaf canopy. There it will stay, hidden away but readying itself for a comeback next February. Some celandine facts:

The plant is also known by the old folk-name 'spring messenger'

Lesser celandines are part of the buttercup family

The greater celandine is part of the poppy family and not closely related to the lesser celandine

Look for lesser celandines during February and March in woodlands, hedgerows, path edges and bare ground.

To find out more about local wildlife visit devonwildlifetrust.org