Although the meadow has been cut there are still large numbers of butterflies. The plants we often ignore because they are so common,things like bramble , thistle, teasel ragwort and willowherb are havens for butterflies as well as bees and other insects. The verges of fields and roads provide highways of food and habitats for this wildlife.

Along the river this morning I noticed some Himalayan Balsam ( Impatiens glandulifera)

This was an accidentally introduced species which is very invasive and can colonise large stretches of river bank .

It’s seeds are interesting, the pods explode like a spring literally firing the seeds a good distance.

Although attractive this plant is invasive and needs to be removed and managed.

The big meadow by the lake has been cut for hay, this is part of its conservation cycle to keep it diverse but it felt quiet and empty this morning . There were a few dragonflies and damselflies but was butterfly free.

Looking forward to watching it develop next year.

Ian discovered this Lichen at the Botanical garden of Wales. Really interesting. Sounds like a great place to visit.

Thanks Ian

A day of birds, Swallows building nests and feeding their young in a doorway of a 14th Century Manor House, sometimes perching on a giant sword !

Ducks – very comical and friendly, seemed to appear wherever we went.

Beautiful dead tree at Baddesley Clinton. It may be dead but was a food source for insects and home too.

Male Brimstone feeding . Today there were even more butterflies .

Something caught my eye this afternoon at the surface of the water.

It was an amazing swimming grass snake ( Natrix Helvetia). It was probably about a metre long and was swimming with fantastic s shaped movements.

The water was so clear it was absolutely wonderful to watch.

Here are some grass snake facts :-

Size -90-250cm

Lifespan 15-25 years

Breed at 4-5 years

Hunt fish amphibians and small birds

Lay 10-40 eggs

Hibernate from October until April

Protected species in the U.K. post 2010 biodiversity framework.

Very exciting to see this beautiful creature 😀

The swans who always give so much interest were resting today under the boardwalk in very comfy overhangs some of them snoozing others resting and preening.

There is always something happening in the lives of these swans!

As the summer progresses flowers become masses of seeds. Winged and fluffy seeds to be blown across the countryside were preparing for flight today. The more you looked the more you noticed. The closer you look the more beautiful , delicate and engineered they are.

Willow herb looks rather boring until you take a closer look !

Thistle seeds

These look so soft they would make a super duvet!

Fluffy sow thistle heads

The hairs on the stems of these catching the seeds of other wind travellers !