Usually white, they are very small and can be found on flowers in summer waiting for flies to drop by. This one was sitting on Devils Bit Scabious, a plant of damp, open rides and great for insects, that flowers in July.

A common cricket of late summer that spends most of its life in Oak trees just munching leaves.

A summer migrant that like the cuckoo is getting rare in this country now. This bird was one of a pair that tried to nest in 2008 but failed. I have not seen any in Old Park Wood this year, which is very worrying. It is a government Biodiverisity Action Plan (BAP) species and populations are being monitored.

A fast flying woodland specialist, that needs wood violets to lay its eggs and so benefits when woodland is coppiced. On the wing in July and August but not common, and difficult to spot as it rarely rests for long.

Likes sitting in the sun, mimics the colours of a wasp to deter predators but is harmless.

A late summer butterfly that  needs honeysuckle to feed from and lay eggs on. It likes sunny rides so the best place is the main track north of Limberlost although it occurs in small numbers all over the wood.

It benefits from  the coppicing and ride clearance that encourages its food plant to grow.

A Glow Worm, Crow Wood

Glow-worm -  seen around the wood in clearings anywhere in Old Park Wood – still, dark nights in Late June are the best time to look. It’s the female that glows to call in males. This one was on a coppiced stump on mid-summer night.