Well that’s the appearance that young bracken fronds can be compared with as they look to unfurl their treasures and open up to the world in a race for the light.

Once again the scene is Garryduff Woods – despite being able to travel more than the 5km (we can now travel within our county, which for me is County Cork) – where the streams tumble down and the red squirrels play. One of the little joys of spring is seeing the unfurling of ferns, in this case bracken.

These wonderful fronds are up against some pretty stiff competition for the light, not least this mighty chestnut tree that I have photographed before, though not from this angle.

Go on, get outside and see what wonders nature has to offer.