Last month we were on the chalk hills of Gloucestershire — butterfly hunting, and not without success!

Daneway banks are famous for the butterflies. Their steep chalk grassland is peppered with clumps of wild marjoram and thyme. It was a sunny day and there was a helpful and knowledgeable volunteer from the Butterfly Conservancy to point us in the right direction!

No Brown Argus spotted, not for lack of trying, but there were cavorting Marbled Whites a plenty.

And several Essex skippers, similar to small skippers but with black tipped antennae and a black stripe parallel to the leading edge of the forewing.

It was very hot and cooling off in the dappled shade of a nearby woodland we found my favourite butterfly — the silver washed fritillary.

Next week, if the weather cheers up, we are off to hunt the Adonis Blue and the Brown Argus.