Monthly guide to woodland wildlife

July

This is the month when the lovely brown butterflies emerge: meadow brown, hedge brown (or gatekeeper), and ringlets.

Also on thistles and bramble flowers, look out for large skipper, small skipper and comma butterflies.

In the flower patch look for yarrow, St John’s wort, and knapweed.

On warm evenings, about an hour after sunset, bats emerge to catch midges and moths around the trees and overgrown hedges. Their familiar silhouettes and flapping wings can be seen against the darkening sky.