Easter Sunday has brought sunny skies for many in the South of England as hundreds pile onto the nation’s beaches with family on the first weekend since lockdown restrictions were eased to allow groups of six to meet outdoors.
A top temperature of 64.4F (18C) is forecast for the South of England this afternoon, whilst northern parts are expected to see highs of 59F (15C) and more cloud cover, with possible rain moving in later this evening.
Temperatures across the UK are expected to plummet as we head through the Easter weekend, with the cold snap threatening snow in some areas on Monday.
Easter Monday is expected to bring wet and very windy weather across much of the UK and cooler temperatures, falling to 44F (7C) by tomorrow morning and to lows of 23F (-5C) in parts of northern Scotland.
The Met Office has issued three snow and wind warnings covering most of Scotland from today until Monday night – in what is predicted to be a three-day cold snap bringing ‘heavy snow showers’. England’s east coast could also see snow showers following today’s sunshine.
With Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown now allowing for two households to meet in a group of six outdoors, families have joined together today to celebrate in an almost pre-covid fashion.
Overnight in Sandbanks, Dorset, police were forced to disperse crowds for the second night in a row after groups that had been drinking on the beach throughout Saturday refused to go home after a day in the sun.
Several males and one female was taken away by the police during the evening, which also saw boy racers zoom up and down the exclusive stretch of coast line.
The local Tesco has been so busy selling alcohol to the groups that it had one very large delivery of beer during the evening to maintain stock levels during the easter weekend.
Sandbanks locals have made many complaints to the police in the past few days and many stayed indoors whilst the trouble ensued, Sandbanks has some of the most expensive real estate in the uk and police have a real battle to contain the partying during the hot weather as Covid-19 rules relax.
Runners enjoy the sun in Sandbanks, Dorset, where hundreds have taken to the beach to soak up the Easter Sunday rays
A couple are seen walking a dog on Sandbanks beach, Dorset, in the early morning sun this Easter Sunday
Brave individuals take a dip in the sea on Sandbanks beach in Dorset, despite top temperatures only reaching 64.4F (18C)
Two women are seen taking the plunge in Sandbanks on a sunny but crisp feeling Easter Sunday morning
Two people are seen going for an Easter Sunday dip in the cold water in Sandbanks, Dorset, where many have taken to the sea
Paddle boarders make the most of the early sunshine in Southsea, Hampshire, on Easter Sunday, before temperatures are set to plummet on Monday
A group of four take a dip in the sea in Southsea, Hampshire, on Easter Sunday
Elsewhere in the UK this morning, paddle boarders were seen making the most of the early sunshine in Southsea, Hampshire.
Meanwhile brave souls in Sandbanks were seen stripping down to their swimming cosies to take a dip in the sea, with many opening up their beach huts to enjoy the warm weather while it lasts.
In Cambridgeshire Police were seen patrolling the banks of the River Great Ouse near Ely to stop crowds gathering ahead of the Men’s Boat Race.
With a cold snap expected to bring a drop of around 50F (10C) tomorrow farmers have shared their fears for tiny newborn Easter lambs, who are at risk of shivering to death from hypothermia as temperatures plunge to Arctic-like sub-zero levels with the threat of snow this week.
Phil Stocker, chief executive of the National Sheep Association, said: ‘Sheep and livestock farmers, especially in the UK’s uplands, are acutely aware of the potential for a spring cold snap which can bring devastation and soul-destroying losses during lambing time.
‘The sector has endured several cold weather events during recent springs and these have wrought considerable hardship to both stock and hill farmers.
Groups drank on the beach and pavements ignoring social distancing and the police’s repeated requests to disperse and go home after a day in the sun in Sandbanks, Dorset, in the early hours of this morning
Large groups are seen gathering outside Tescos in Sandbanks, Dorset, where crowds have gathered for the second night after good weather brought them to the beach
Sandbanks has some of the most expensive real estate in the uk and police have a real battle to contain the partying during the hot weather as covid-19 rules relax
The local Tesco has been so busy selling alcohol to the groups that it had one very large delivery of beer during the evening to maintain stock levels during the easter weekend in Sandbanks, Dorset
A stunning orange glow is pictured over Edinburgh Castle at sunrise on Easter Sunday
The waning gibbous moon is visible at daybreak on a cold Easter Sunday morning in, Dunsden, Oxfordshire
Sandbanks beach seen on Easter Sunday morning as small groups gather to meet with family as permitted under the rule of six as covid restrictions are eased
Brave swimmers make their way back to a beach hut after taking a dip in the sea in Sandbanks, Easter Sunday
Runners burn off their easter chocolate on a jog along the seafront in Sandbanks, Dorset, Easter Sunday
A young family get ready to go paddle boarding in Sandbanks this morning, with the whole family involved
Family’s gather in beach front huts on Sandbanks, as the weather and covid restrictions finally allow the meetings
A man uses a metal detector on Sandbanks in Dorset in the hopes of finding lockdown treasure on Easter Sunday
A man is seen pulling his rubber dingy from the water in Sandbanks, Dorset. Swimmers can be seen braving the water behind
A family wrap up warm for a stroll on the breezy but sunny Sandbanks beach this morning, as the weather remains warm for Easter Sunday before temperatures are due to plummet
A couple are seen in their swimming gear after taking the plunge on Sandbanks beach for morning exercise
‘However, being aware of the approaching change in weather type will allow farmers to buffer the impacts by taking action to avoid the worst losses.’
Guy Barter, chief horticulturalist at the Royal Horticultural Society, warned gardeners not to be in a rush to plant seeds and flowers: ‘Overnight frosts in April are dreaded by gardeners.
‘Magnolia and camellia flowers are ruined, fruit blossom and young fruitlets including pears and apples are spoiled and the tender tips of potatoes will be burnt off if they appear above ground.
‘Gardener’s hearts are in their mouths through April as they anxiously scan the weather forecasts for frost warnings ready to rush out and cover vulnerable plants to ward off damage.’
Another warning from Prickles and Paws, based in Cubert near Newquay, Cornwall, urged gardeners to be cautious when using their strimmers in the warm weather.
A pair of rowers travel along the River Thames at Maidenhead, Berkshire, on Easter Sunday
Police patrol the river banks before the Men’s Boat Race on the River Great Ouse near Ely in Cambridgeshire, Easter Sunday
Crowds gathered to watch the Boat Race on the River Great Ouse near Ely in Cambridgeshire, but were moved on by police
Police patrol the river bank before the Boat Race on the River Great Ouse near Ely in Cambridgeshire
People walk along the river bank by the start line before the Boat Race on the River Great Ouse near Ely in Cambridgeshire
Police vans arrive in Ely before the Men’s Boat Race on the River Great Ouse near Ely in Cambridgeshire. Picture date: Sunday April 4
Police near the start line of the Boat Race on the River Great Ouse near Ely in Cambridgeshire
The vet has taken in more strimmer-injured hedgehogs in the past fortnight than in the whole of 2020.
In just a few days they treated five and tragically, four had to be put to sleep because of the severity of their injuries.
Spokeswoman Katy South said it is the same grim picture acrodss Britain as people rush out to spring clean their lawns and sort out their shrubberies.
They’re also appealing to people with allotments to check for hedgehogs first before firing up the strimmer.
‘Carefully inspecting all areas of long grass and undergrowth before mowing or strimming can save hedgehogs and other wildlife, as they hibernate, nest and forage within this environment’ she said.
Council workers begin the task of clearing up the litter left on Southsea Common in Hampshire today, following nice weather over the Easter weekend
Temperatures are expected to drop, but the Spring-like conditions over the last few days have brought many lockdown-weary Brits back outdoors
‘If a hedgehog is approached, its natural defence is to curl into a ball. They will not run away so borders, hedgerows and areas of dense undergrowth need to be checked carefully and thoroughly as this is where their nests will be located.
‘A hedgehog’s nest may look like a pile of leaves or woven grass. Using a pole or stick to move or part the undergrowth should help reveal any nests to the human eye.
‘In 2020 we admitted 1,003 hedgehogs but only admitted six with obvious strimmer injuries.
‘We are very concerned that in less than a two-week period we have nearly matched the total number of strimmer injury cases from last year.
‘It has been absolutely heart-breaking to have so many of these lovely animals brought into us recently with injuries that could so easily have been avoided.
‘The situation is now very serious and we desperately want to raise awareness and try and prevent more cases like this from happening across the whole of the UK.
‘We understand that whilst in a national lockdown, with the weather improving, people will be spending more time outdoors in their gardens and will maintain them.
‘But we would ask that people just check their areas before working to avoid harming any wildlife.
‘Hedgehog numbers have seen rapid decline across the UK in recent years, with an estimated 523,000 remaining in England, Scotland and Wales.
‘In fact, last year, they were reclassified as vulnerable to extinction in the UK by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
‘Our work is now more vital than ever to conserve this iconic species, particularly in rural areas where their decline is believed to be most rapid.’