27/07/2026
What a summer! Worryingly parched and the land gasping for water, but the sunshine has brought out the butterflies. An explosion of Marbled Whites, now Gatekeepers, Common Blues and Chalk Hill Blues with Clouded Yellows and Painted Lady's. The flowers are holding on and seem to keep going.....
We've had volunteers out pulling ragwort from Allotment field as I know how it can take over in that field and become a dense thicket, so just want to keep on top of it. Really appreciate the help as it was hard, sweaty work.
Yew Hill is doing its thing. The Chalk Hill Blues seem to be in good numbers. Thanks to Kevin Frisby for organising a school visit with Oliver's Battery primary school yr 4 who came for an afternoon visit to Yew Hill. A lovely time had by all.
The Southern Water meadow just outside the reserve, although a bit overgrown, did ok this year despite not being cut and raked.
BSM had a visit from Bentley primary Nature Guardians who were thrilled to see a fantastic display by Silver Washed Fritillaries and Purple Hairstreaks along with Common Blues, Gatekeepers and several dragonflies.
Chilcomb scrapes, the cycleway had 9 Striped Lychnis larvae and I counted 3 along Kings Lane scrape. They were early this year. The sports ground scrape was looking flowery with lots of bees and butterflies.
Pete Hughes, BC media team, took some photos while visiting MHD for the Big Butterfly Count.
