A Walk Out In The Fields

The end of June and a walk around the fields finds them teaming with life. Butterflies hoverflies and bees are busy in the Buttercup patches. Spiders jump away from exploring finger tips on the damp earth. Ladybirds and other beetles can be found roaming about in clumps of flowering nettles. Then suddenly I see a large aerobatic flyer darting about over the gently swaying purple grasses: the Golden-ringed Dragonfly! (Photos of this impressive insect can be found on the British Dragonfly Society website…)

This past week I've been cutting or pulling Docks. Thankfully there aren't too many. These deep rooted weeds bring up nutrients from beneath the topsoil and are a source of magnesium. I like to see a few but they must be cut before they set seed in the fields. Thistles too are topped several times during the summer again to prevent them spreading their seed.

Small clover plants indicate some success with the over-seeding done in March although patience is needed to see the full effects.