As spring eases into summer, hedgerows flower and fields turn red with poppies. Trees are now fully in leaf and birds are in full breeding season.
Download the poppy picture to use as a monthly desktop calendar (click on the orange link and then right click on the picture and select 'set as background')
Wildlife to look out for
It is mating season for pine martens, extremely rare mammals and a member of the weasel family. They normally reside in well-wooded areas and make their dens in hollow trees or scrub-covered fields. They are mainly active at night and dusk and feed on small mammals, birds, insects and frogs. Keep an eye out for dragonfly and butterflies which are very active at this time of year.
Northern Ireland: Crom Estate (pine martens)
Flowers
Dog rose, orchids, foxgloves and wild honeysuckle
Elderflowers peak around the Summer Soltice. The yellow-horned poppy can be found near the sea in shingle, sand dunes and rocky outcrops, it's red relative can be found in fields all over the country at this time of year. Orchids can also be found in meadows and chalk grassland all over the country, some species are extremely rare.
Wessex: Golden Cap Estate
East of England: Wimpole
Wales: Berthllwyd Farm, Brecon
Where to find orchids:
South East: Denbies Hillside, Box Hill
Wales: Gower Coast, Berthllwyd Farm (Brecon)
North West: Sandscale Haws
Wessex: Rodborough Common (Glos), Golden Cap, South Purbeck Coast
Norhern Ireland: Murlough Nature Reserve, Portsteward Strand, Barmouth and Grangemore
© NTPL / Stephen Robson
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Birds
Goldfinches can be found feeding on thistle seeds in flocks. Found at most properties supporting bird life; they particularly like teazles. The following can also be found, particularly on farmland at this time of year: turtle dove, yellowhammer, whitethroat, corn bunting, greenfinches and siskins. Swifts, swallows and house martins can also be seen chasing insects.
East of England: Wimpole (yellowhammer)
Wales: Berthllwyd Farm, Brecon (yellowhammer)
Wessex: Wiltshire countryside (corn bunting)
Common seal pups
Common seal pups can be found at the following areas:
East of England: North Norfolk Coast, Blakeney Point, Brancaster, Morston, Stiffkey
© NTPL / Joe Cornish
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Moths
Five, six, seven and eight spot burnet moth can be seen on plants. Other moths that can be seen at this time of year include the Netted Carpet Moth, the Chalk Carpet Moth and the Rustic Moth.
Northern Ireland: Portsteward Strand, Barmouth & Grangemore (bee orchids), Murlough Nature Reserve
South West: Penrose Estate, Cornwall
Lake District
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