Surprise find local Canal, first view of beautiful Large Bitter-cress Cardamine amara. Distinctive feature 6 Violet Anthers, unlike other Cress & Cuckoos which are Yellow-Green. Declining species, largely absent from Southwest Britain BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland wildflowerhour #wildflowerhour

It's certainly been a year for Glossy Harlequin Ladybirds in my garden, brisk April showers followed by wind & sun clearly good for their sheen, including this v. spectabilis. Look at those adorable Blue eyes too, along with an insatiable appetite! Buglife #365DaysWild

Also good to see three Scarlet Tiger Moth Caterpillars Callimorpha dominula, munching their way through one of their host plants, Green Alkanet near local Church. Around 15mm after Winter Hibernation, they can reach 45mm before pupation British Moths Pam McInnes #MothsMatter

Great to see Green Longhorn Moth Adela reaumurella local Woodland, dazzling colour. Blue Purple Orange White Brown & Black antennae, Silvery Green wings, Ginger head. From Fairy Moth Family, they certainly waved a magic wand on this Beauty! British Moths Sarah L #MothsMatter

Lovely to see Ground-ivy Glechoma hederacea, with its Purple Orchid-like lower lip markings. Used in aromatherapy as a natural insect repellent, essential oils repel mosquitos & ticks. Plant also Bacteria and Fungi resistant BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland wildflowerhour #wildflowerhour

Thrilled to find Dog's Mercury Broad-nosed Weevil Barynotus moerens at Cloud Wood. Lovely Golden Brown Weevil, adults feed on host leaves larvae on roots. Habitat specific requires wet Ancient Woodland, hence only 487 National records Buglife The Wildlife Trusts Sarah L

When the sun comes out to play, so does The Footballer Helophilus pendulus. Seen at Cloud Wood last week, this striking Hoverfly looks fresh out of the Paintworks, large Dark Orange central segments indicates being a Male. Hoverfly Lagoons The Wildlife Trusts #365Dayswild

A real Garden success story. This time last year I added a whole range of Wild Meadow grass seed. Thrilled to find today Cereal leaf Beetle Oulema melanopa agg. feeds on above. Lovely iridescent Green elytra. Biodiversity at its finest! Buglife The Wildlife Trusts Sarah L

Moschatel Adoxa moschatellina are full of Magic tricks. Townhall Clocks produce Male Flowers, changing sex to Female. Mucronate leaf tip points are Hydathodes, acting as valves to exude & pump out excess leaf water & unwanted salts! BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland wildflowerhour #Wildflowerhour

Delightful looking Grey Willow Catkins Cloud Wood, reminds me of a Jesters Hat! Of ecological importance, fast growth rate able to capture & store vast amounts of Carbon, hence being a Pioneer species of Wet Woodland Reforestation Woodland Trust🌳 The Wildlife Trusts BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland

Very Special find, Rare glimpse of Greater Thorn-tipped Longhorn Beetle Pogonocherus hispidulus. Thorn tips visible on abdomen, White marking mimic Bird droppings. Largely Nocturnal, Cloud Wood presence due to host Small-leaved Lime Buglife Sarah L #WildWebsWednesday

Real delight to see along Woodland rides of Cloud Wood yesterday, an Early Epistrophe eligans. Attractive Medium sized Hoverfly with a shiny Coppery thorax. Generally only seen in April & May, feeding on Blackthorn and Hawthorn Hoverfly Lagoons The Wildlife Trusts #WildWebsWednesday

Finding this Woodland beauty along the Offa's Dyke Path Chepstow on 8th March is a fair indicator of Early Dog-violet, usually three weeks ahead of Common variety, although deep Violet unnotched spur is an added help. BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland wildflowerhour #wildflowerhour #violetchallenge

Lovely to see Dove's-foot Crane's-bill Geranium molle, local Field margins today. Pretty deep-veined notched Magenta petals, and Bright Green lobed leaves which provide good ground cover. Larval Foodplant of Brown Argus Butterflies BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland wildflowerhour #wildflowerhour

Some fine looking Barren Strawberry Potentilla sterilis local Woodland edge. Lovely spaced slightly notched petals, central achene has hooked tips, clings to animal fur. Plant traditionally used to flavour Vinegars & condiments BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland wildflowerhour #wildflowerhour

First local sighting Red Rumex Weevil Apion frumentarium extremely hard to photo attractive 3mm Orange-Red, generally only seen in April & May hiding under large Dock leaves & stems, quickly falling to Root base once disturbed! Buglife The Wildlife Trusts Sarah L

No matter how many Spring garden flowers you provide, Angle Shades Moth Caterpillars head for the Nettle patch every time! In close proximity less common Harlequin f.conspicua, just 870 NBN records compared to 7,000 for other 2 varieties Buglife The Wildlife Trusts Sarah L

Great to see Wood Anemone (nemorosa) responding positively to Afternoon sunshine today. Pink tinged sepals tend to turn darker just before flowers fall off, a trigger mechanism to indicate Pollination is now complete BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland wildflowerhour #wildflowerhour #WoodlandPlants

You can see why chequer-board pattern of Snake's Head Fritillary is also called Chess Flower, although Fritillaria meleagris translates as 'spotted like a guinea fowl.' What they lack in scent, they certainly make up for in appearance BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland wildflowerhour #wildflowerhour

So Happy to see Snake's Head Fritillary in Local Floodplain Meadow today, where they've thrived for 250 years. Scarce White variety looked stunningly Beautiful, Grass-Green leaves play a vital role providing Nutrients for reproduction BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland wildflowerhour #wildflowerhour