Eleven of us met in the heat of a sweltering day for a walk around Sheepleas focusing on flowers and butterflies.

Just a few of the highlights in terms of the wild-flowers were as follows.  Three types of Campanula were seen:  Nettle leaved Bellflower, Clustered Bellflower, and Harebell.  We stopped to look at a patch of Hemp Agrimony which was quite a contrast to the smaller Agrimony with a yellow flower.  Further along the path there was some flowering Deadly Nightshade.  In places there were fragrant patches of wild herbs such as Marjoram, Wild Basil, Wild Thyme to be enjoyed.  We studied some Wild Clematis or ‘Traveller’s Joy.’  A total of 47 different plants and flowers were recorded in all-a full list is available from the ‘walks’ email.

Despite the heat and recent lack of rain, the flower meadows looked lush and were alive with butterflies.  We saw Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma, Dark Green Fritillary, Silver-Washed Fritillary, Green Veined White, Large White, Brimstone, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Marbled White, Ringlet, Small Heath, and Common Blue.  The list was added to almost at the end of the walk when a single White Admiral flew very close to some of us in the group giving close range if fleeting views.

Birds as expected were few and far between, but we did see a circling buzzard in the sky, and a Kestrel perched and flying.  A Stock Dove could be seen on a tall tree and could be heard singing.  As we made our way around our circular route, we saw a Robin and, pausing to admire the butterflies on a Buddleia we also noticed a Chiffchaff.  At this point there were also numerous fledgling Great and Blue Tits in their ‘washed-out’ juvenile plumage.