After many false starts trying to bring the overgrown, woody heather into some sort of control, we have had to go back to the beginning and cut it all out. Visitors can see where we have left virtually nothing on about 40 square yards (metres) alongside the footpath. It looks like nothing but devastation! However, about two years ago we tested a small plot like this (away from passers-by!) and now we can see new heather plants just coming through during this last spring. So we are pleased that eventually we will be able to weed out the bracken, brambles and birch saplings more easily. This will be a doddle, compared to years of stumbling battle through the old branches of heather, but will need to continue for some time yet.

We now have the final results of our butterfly survey last season. There was a total of 310 sightings for an hour or so once a week for 26 weeks. The most frequent sightings were the speckled wood (83), meadow brown (64) and ringlet (58). It is interesting that the speckled wood flew from April to October, whereas the other two were mainly concentrated in July and August. Just three varieties with a sole sighting were the orange tip, large skipper, and small tortoiseshell. I am surprised that the first did not figure -there were plenty my garden last year.

I was also surprised to see there were five silver-washed fritillarys and – particularly - four white admirals which are down by 31per cent. The conservation status of the latter are priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan which commits the Government to the protection of "biological issues".

Sorry - that's a bit boring but, I think, important!

John Hall © 2010