I’ve been enjoying the blossom in the hedgerows this year on my lockdown walks. I think I’ve finally worked out the difference between Blackthorn, Hawthorn and May. According to the Woodland Trust, Hawthorn and May are the same plant.

Blackthorn usually flowers earlier than Hawthorn, from March, while we have to wait until April for the Hawthorn. 

Blackthorn, incidentally, will produce sloes later in the year.

The easiest way to distinguish them is probably that Blackthorn flowers appear before the leaves. So I am reasonably confident in labelling today’s sketches ‘Blackthorn.’