Yesterday, the Winter Solstice, is officially our shortest day, on average in the UK lasting 7 hours, 49 minutes 41 seconds! However the shortest day varies throughout the UK and not just by latitude. And it keeps getting darker in the mornings until early in the New Year, while our earliest sunset was about a week ago. Nor does daylight increase at an even rate through until the longest day, Summer Solstice, on 21st June. Daylight begins getting longer very slowly and it is all immensely complicated! Also, only about 4 solar days a year last 24 hours, and none in December– but our watches would be in chaos if we didn’t assume our days were 24 hours long. Here’s a sunrise and sunset, to ease our aching brains! Temperature : Max 10- Min 9C.
Winter sunrise at Boulmer, Northumberland
Winter sunset, Sheffield
Sheffield city nature diary by Penny Philcox 