The Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii) is in flower on the side of the rail trackbed. The strong sweet scent and pink lilac mini-trumpet flowers with an orange eye are usually a big attraction for butterflies but not here.  I watch for ten minutes or so and there are no visitors. A man walking past with his friend asks me if my name’s Sue and seems quite put out when I politely say no. I find myself apologising without knowing why.

Buddleja davidii plants were first collected in China in the eighteen hundreds. The genus was named after the Reverend Adam Buddle, a Restoration botanist. This plant is now classified as an invasive species in the UK but it doesn’t seem to be doing much harm here.

Round the corner it’s a different story for insect spotting. A big bush of Traveller’s Joy is where the butterflies are at. I spot a Peacock, Meadow Brown and then this male Purple Hairstreak appears – male because it doesn’t have the patches of violet on it’s upper wings. I wasn’t quick enough to get it side on to record the staggered white streaks but they were there.

He doesn’t hang around for long before he’s off, up to the oak canopy again.