WILDLIFE TO WATCH: JULY

Summer has certainly arrived at the farm this month, with warm temperatures and long sunny days during the month of June. Many of the trees we saw in blossom in the early spring have now developed seeds and fruits, and reddening cherries are particularly conspicuous at this time. However, there are many more summer wildlflowers coming into bloom at this time. Over the past month we’ve seen elder fill with white blossoms, fields of poppies and irises surround our ponds. These are just a few of the many blooms on the farm, and their arrival has been matched by an increase in pollinators, including bees, beetles and butterflies. The Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper butterflies will be emerging soon as well as Large, Small and Essex Skippers who will all be on the wing in July.

We have also seen lots of birds fledging over the past month including great tits, blue tits and crows. The short grassy fields are filled with juvenile starlings, who have a dull brown colour compared to the glossy iridescent and black adults.