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Musk mallow seed cases on Ingleby Clay. Musk mallow increased in abundance for a couple of years after launch of rewilding project, but are now in decline. They are nitrate-hungry plants, so we hope this signals a reduction in nitrates, and good news for other wildflower species.

The larch trees planted on Hardwick Scrub in 2020 are in flower, and astonishingly radiant. #larch #europeanlarch #hardwickscrub #communitynaturesite #saxilbynatureproject

Snakes head fritillary were formerly considered to be native to the UK. Not now, but they have been naturalised for centuries. This photo is from the colony in our wildflower garden, where it grows in dappled shade among grassland which enjoys the run-off from the pond.

Blackthorn and bullace grow side by side on Ingleby Clay, and are not easy to tell apart. It seems to be that bullace flowers are marginally larger and slightly further from the stem than those of blackthorn. #inglebyclay #communitynaturesite #saxilbynatureproject

From out of darkness Anemone in the spring meadow in our front garden #anemone #springmeadow #wildlifegarden

While clearing brambles in Saxilby Community Wood we stopped to admire butterflies soaking up the sunshine on last year's collapsed nettle stems. Brimstone, peacock and comma butterflies were darting about, especially this comma, which saw off any insect invading its airspace.

Help with an ID, please. We believe this is a tawny mining bee, but would appreciate confirmation. It was on Ingleby Clay yesterday morning, trying to shelter from a shower of rain.

The crab apple growing in the western boundary hedge on Ingleby Clay is coming into flower. Just another of the trees in the hedge benefitting from the new management regime, which does not involve the flail! Happy days.

A couple from the wildlife garden this afternoon. We have yet to ID the beetle, but not conceding defeat just yet.

Why do we plant trees? This is why. A beautiful young rowan opens its arms to the world, without a hint of reluctance, on our Hardwick Scrub community nature site. #rowan #mountainash #communitynaturesite #hardwickscrub #saxilbynatureproject #treeflowers

Apple blossom is among the most appealing flowers in our wildlife garden, especially when the tree is self-set in a beech hedge. It must be 30 years old by now, and produces small but tasty apples - when it feels like it. #treeflowers #wildlifegarden #apple #selfsetapple

The wayfaring trees (viburnum lantana) are a joy in the garden and on the community nature sites at the moment. They are surprisingly clay-tolerant. #treeflowers #wayfaringtree #wildlifegarden #communitynaturesite #saxilbynatureproject

We visited Grimsthorpe Park yesterday with the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union, where the calcareous grasslands were dotted with wildflowers. 1. Mouse-ear hawkweed 2. Common mouse-ear 3. Salad burnet 4. Common rock rose A wonderful location in great and knowledgeable company.

A few yellow & metallic green pics from Saturday's Grimsthorpe Park LNU field meeting. 1, 2, 4 Mouse-ear hawkweed 3 Bird's-foot trefoil We believe the beetle to be Cryptocephalus aureolus #Cryptocephalusaureolus #LNU #Grimsthorpepark #wildflowerhour @lovelincsplants #entomology

A final photo from the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union weekend field meeting at Grimsthorpe. This little beauty was lurking in the grassland. It looks to us very much like a four-spotted moth (Tyta luctuosa), described in our guide book as scarce and vulnerable. Butterfly Conservation 🦋

We have published two blog posts which include photos and narrative from fellow nature lovers, to thank dog walkers for respecting a three-month dog ban. The blog posts have been popular and we wish to share them with you: saxilbynatureproject.wordpress.com/nature-smiles-… + saxilbynatureproject.wordpress.com/nature-smiles-…

3 of these striking insects were feeding on our water mint and knapweed. We think they're hornet mimic hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) The black and yellow markings protect it from predation as it forages. The larvae live in wasp nests feeding on detritus, pupae and larvae.

Our brand new Eco Robinson moth trap sprang into action in our wildlife garden on Friday night. The maiden haul of 15 species and 48 individual insects, included these four: Brindled Green, Common Wainscot, Orange Swift & a Snout (we believe, please correct any errors!)

Four more insects lured into our new moth trap at the weekend: Dusky Brocade, Light Emerald, Caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus, Lesser Yellow Underwing Among the moths which escaped without being photographed, were a Chinese Character and a Brimstone Moth A lot to learn.

Angle shades moths are quite common in parks and gardens. Yet how many of us would know one of these striking creatures if it alighted on our house window? I for one didn't, when it happened this afternoon. Like many moths, it was happy to be photographed. #angleshades #moth