First blooms of Summer

The Lagoon and its meadow are once again bursting into life, with the beginnings of the succession flowering that was so spectacular last year. This includes Kidney Vetch, the food plant of the Small Blue, and this week we observed no fewer than seven of these tiny butterflies around the Lagoon. 

Our wildflower plantings are increasingly colonising the Lagoon banks, and even Cut-leaved Germander is to be found away from its first site, despite being partially eroded by water from the new additional pipe drain from Outwood Lane.
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Although the pool water level is low in the present dry conditions, the recent pond plant matting is starting to grow and Broad-Bodied Chasers and a mass of Damselflies are swarming over the water surface. Some of the established plants like the Bulrushes have become a little too successful and the time is coming when some of the growth will have to be cut back. Here's hoping it's a warm day for a paddle!
Graham Kenward

Early Scabious blooms

White Campion, Poppies and Kidney Vetch

Kidney Vetch on the Lagoon bank.

Thyme clinging to the rocks.

The banks are turning greener.

Extra drainpipe from Outwood Lane.

Three's a crowd: Damselflies mating.