16 people joined the walk at Sheepleas on a very pleasant July day. Despite the recent and prolonged dry weather, the flowers were spectacular and an absolute delight. Butterflies on the other hand were down on last year although Ringlets, Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites were in good numbers. Although Common Blues and Small Heaths were hard to find, Silver-washed Fritillaries, Speckled Woods, Red Admiral, Peacocks, Gatekeepers and Brimstones were all seen. The star of the show which put in a brief appearance was a Hummingbird Hawk Moth, seen at the very end of the walk on a large Buddelia bush near the car park. A list of species is below.

Flowers: Enchanter’s Nightshade, Herb Bennet, Dock sp. Black Bryony, Agrimony, Sanicle, Bramble, White Valerian, Common Spotted Orchid, Red Clover, Hedge Bedstraw, Marjoram, Common Knapweed, Dark Mullein, Great Mullein, Hogweed, Wood Sage, Cowslip (seed pods), Common Mallow, Vervain, Figwort, Hedge Woundwort, Herb Robert, Ragwort, Rock Rose, Creeping Thistle, Hop Trefoil, Birds-foot Trefoil, Thyme, Dwarf Thistle, Harebell, Clustered Bellflower, Basil, White Helleborine, Everlasting Pea, Cotoneaster, Small Scabious, Oxeye Daisy, Salad Burnett, Yellow Melilot, Fairy Flax, Small Willowherb, Yellow-wort, Pyramidal Orchid, Burnet Saxifrage, Lady’s Bedstraw, Self-heal, Common Dodder, Pineapple Weed, Yellow Rattle, Mugwort, Lesser Centaury, Common Centaury, Rosebay Willowherb, Great Willowherb, Silverweed, Cinquefoil, Mignonette, Nipplewort, Common Field Speedwell, Broadleaved Plantain, Ribwort Plantain, Teasel, Marsh Thistle, Jack-by-the-hedge, Buddleia. And last but by no means least, Deadly Nightshade.

Butterflies: Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Dark green Fritillary, Silver-washed Fritillary, Peacock, Brimstone, Large White, Comma, Common Blue, Small Heath, Gatekeeper. Also seen were Hummingbird Hawk Moth, Brown Hawker and Southern Hawker