NORTH DOWNS & BEYOND

The garden MV has not been switched on for several weeks, the longest period of idleness for many a year. Last night, at dusk, and not without a touch of ceremony, the bulb was lit and I wandered up to the trap to make sure that all was well. OUCH! I looked down at my foot to see the bee that had stung me - it looked like a Buff-tailed to me. This morning I peered in the trap to see a fair number of moths, at least 20+ bees and also the beast that is pictured above - a male Stag Beetle. I have only seen a single female in 30 years of living here, but used to come across them regularly in Cheam Village when I resided there. I understand that they are still doing well there this summer. As for the bee numbers, I now notice a hole in the ground close to a Lawson's Cypress stump that is being used by them, just inches away from the MV. The trap will need to be re-sited... This afternoon, elder daughter Rebecca and I visited Park Downs - (it was a choice between that or Bluewa...

Rather than prolong the countdown any further, please accept my botanical top three in one dollop... 3. Grass Vetchling (Lathyrus nissolia) I've already gone all "I wandered lonely as a cloud" over this species, and if you want to relive my moment of appreciation, please click here . 2. Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus) Another species that can be classed as one created by the 'Arts and Crafts Movement' - a botanical candelabra that shines out from its watery surroundings. I see it irregularly enough for it to always excite me when I do come across it. Looks far better in real life than it does in print (or on the screen your looking at now). 1. Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) I never, ever tire of coming across this species. Last week, when I was walking along Denbigh's Hillside I met another naturalist who had seen a few Bee Orchids at the bottom of the slope. I had to go down and have a look - even though I was standing not 25m ...

A very brief wander through the Park Downs 'orchid meadows' revealed three Bee Orchids - last year there were several hundred, so I'm hoping that there are plenty more to come. It was only a few days ago that I posted about the Grass Vetchling at this site, so it was with some surprise to see that the amount in flower had increased greatly. There are tens of thousands on show at the moment, more than I've seen at any time, anywhere. Another great memory for the botanical mind library.

Borne singly on thread-thin stalks, the Grass Vetchling flower nods coquettishly on even the lightest of breezes. The intense, pure magenta can be seen from some distance, belying the smallness of the bloom. To see them dotted through grassland, like scattered rubies, is always a delight. So it will come as no surprise to you that my afternoon walk through the orchid fields of Park Downs was greatly enlivened by plenty of newly emerged Grass Vetchling. If I were so crass as to come up with a 'botanical top ten', it would be there. The Bee and Pyramidal Orchids are yet to show their glory - I've got that joy to come...

You can read about Park Downs (and the work of the conservators) by clicking here . I'm still bathing in the joy of yesterday's visit and will go back again very soon - there is much to see and plenty to find! A few more images from yesterday to give you more of a flavour of the place: The northern boundary of the reserve. The yellow flower is Rough Hawk's-beard, a local Surrey species. Looking south from the picture above. Most of the Bee and Pyramidal Orchids are in this general area. Grassland detail. bejewelled with the crimson of Grass Vetchling flowers.