Not very summery, is it? Very wet and miserable!
The wet weather has badly affected the butterflies that we should be seeing in big numbers in the middle of June. However, there are
some about — the other day, I saw two painted ladies, two orange tips, and two speckled woods up the lane. We 
visited Ashclyst Forest, and saw a few small pearl bordered fritillaries and a couple of broad bodied chaser dragonflies. There were plenty of wild orchids in bloom there, and we heard the lovely song of the willow warbler.
This is the month for the new young birds to be seen. Our feeders are full of them — blue and great tits, goldfinches and sparrows. I counted five young 
blue tits at one feeder. We also have young blackbirds and dunnocks. It’s great to see them pestering their parents for food.
The other morning, I decided to add kitchen waste to the compost container. On peeling off the cover, what did I see, but a slow worm PLUS a grass snake basking in the warmth of the compost. 
The snake quickly shot away (I checked my trouser leg!), but the slow worm stayed put, so I picked it up and placed it in the hedge. It’s amazing how strong these little creatures are — I had to hold it firmly, but carefully.
Alan Jones – 841671
