With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, ladybirds’ thoughts turn to love. Every year, across the UK, millions of ladybirds stir from their winter slumber, eat and set out in search of a mate.

This year, the Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity and the UK Phenology Network have teamed up with BBC’s Springwatch with Bill Oddie to try and find out when seasonal species are appearing.

Why all the fuss about ladybirds? It’s all about climate.

We know that our climate is changing. The UK Phenology Network is studying how nature responds to that change and it needs your help. Combining recent research by the UK Phenology Network with Cambridge University data gives a tantalising hint that ladybirds may be waking-up 11-14 days earlier than they did 20 years ago.

If this is the case then ladybirds could be showing symptoms of a worrying trend being spotted across the natural world. It’s all a question of timing. The end of ladybird hibernation, which is dependent on temperature, is delicately timed to coincide with the emergence of aphids. Any change to this relationship could spell disaster for the ladybirds and a field-day for the aphids as they rampage unchecked over Britain’s roses.

Bill Oddie says, “Is spring coming earlier each year? If it is, what impact might it have on British wildlife? You can help us find out the facts by taking part in the Springwatch survey. The more people are involved, the more information we can give to conservation organisations to help them protect our threatened species.”

Jill Attenborough of the Woodland Trust says, “We need your help to spot when ladybirds first appear and when you see them mating. You can let us know what you have seen by logging on to www.spotted.org.uk”

The new website is part of Nature’s Calendar and will open at the beginning of February – right in time for the start of the ladybird season. There is a special version for children and teenagers as well, Nature Detectives aimed at 4-18-year olds, which has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund7. Both can be accessed through www.spotted.org.uk and offer the chance to record many other species including the first cuckoo first flowers on trees, frog spawn and bumblebees – to name just a few.