There’s a shift in the season.
Spring settles in quietly at first — longer days, cooler mornings, and a gradual return to the outdoors. The landscape begins to change, hedgerows soften, and the countryside moves with a different rhythm. It’s a time defined less by spectacle and more by anticipation.
🎣 Back to the Water
Across much of the UK, the trout season is now underway.
Rivers reopen after the winter months, drawing anglers back to the water. Early season conditions can be unpredictable — cold starts, clear flows, and a cautious approach required — but there’s a particular satisfaction in those first days back.
As May progresses, the arrival of the mayfly marks one of the most significant moments in the fly fishing calendar — brief, but unmistakable.
Key moments:
- Start of trout season (late March – April, most UK rivers)
- Peak early season river fishing (April)
- Mayfly season begins (late May, especially chalk streams)
- Salmon season continues on major rivers (spring runs)
🌾 A Season of Preparation
In the field, this is a quieter period — at least on the surface.
The shooting season has closed, but the work continues. Estates are maintained, habitats managed, and dogs trained in preparation for the months ahead. It’s a time of groundwork, where much of what defines the season later in the year begins to take shape.
Elsewhere, lambing season continues and woodland begins to fill out, bringing the first real sense of spring to the countryside.
Key moments:
- Lambing season across the UK (April)
- Habitat and estate management work ongoing
- Gundog training season (spring months)
- Woodland in leaf and bluebell season (late April–May)
🐎 The Return of the Calendar
By April and into May, the outdoor calendar begins to gather momentum.
Early-season shows and countryside events return, bringing together rural life, field sports, and traditional skills. These smaller gatherings build towards the larger summer fixtures, offering a more relaxed and local feel.
Key events:
- Spring Live!, South of England Showground — 18-19 April 2026
- The East Anglian Game & Country Fair, Euston Estate — 25-26 April 2026
- The Mottram Spring Show, Cheshire — 3 May 2026
- Badminton Horse Trials — 6th-10th May 2026
-
Devon County Show — 21st-23rd May 2026
🎯 Shooting & Field Sports
- Clay shooting season underway across the UK (spring competitions and club shoots)
- Regional CPSA events and English Open shoots (April–May)
- Shooting lines and demonstrations at countryside shows, including The East Anglian Game & Country Fair
- Gundog training and estate preparation continue ahead of the season
🌿 Time Outdoors
Beyond the calendar, this is a season best defined by time spent outside.
National parks and open landscapes begin to draw people back in — whether walking, fishing, or simply making the most of longer evenings. Conditions remain changeable, but that unpredictability is part of the appeal.
It’s not yet the height of the season. Instead, April and May offer something quieter — a return, rather than a peak.
Seasonal highlights:
- Peak spring walking conditions across UK national parks
- Longer daylight hours and improving weather windows
- Early camping and lightweight travel season begins
- Rivers, woodland and moorland at their most transitional
🍳 From the Water to the Table
With the season underway, it’s a natural time to return to simple, well-prepared food.
Fresh trout, cooked with care and paired with seasonal ingredients, reflects the same approach as the fishing itself — uncomplicated, considered, and rooted in the moment.
See our Whole Trout with Brown Butter, Almonds & New Potatoes recipe here.
🧭 Looking Ahead
As the season continues, the pace will build.
The calendar will fill, the landscapes will change, and the outdoors will take on a different energy. But for now, April and May remain a time of transition — defined by anticipation, preparation, and a renewed connection to the field.