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Aside from mothing, my nature sallies have been brief. The best was an hour south of Eynsford in NW Kent, checking a couple of roadside verges for plants. One held 33-plus Green-flowered Helleborines, all with firmly closed flowers. The other held easily 1,000 Pyramidial Orchids, with back-up critters comprising a few Chalk Fragrant Orchids, Short-tailed Field Vole, Ringlets, Marbled White, Beautiful Demoiselle and oodles of Common Blue Damselflies.

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10 July 2014 Heffalump in the trap!

Not, not a Pachyderm. But an Elephant, for sure - and in the moth trap. Undoubtedly the month's mothing highlight thus far is this delectable Small Elephant Hawkmoth. It is so pink as to be perfect for attracting - and retaining - the attention of a four-year girl. Step forward Maya, and hold forward your arm to be adorned by this jewel of an insect.

The mothing continues to be fabulous fun. Catches are between 70 and 120 moths per night, plus an array of bugs, wasps, ladybirds and titchy flies. Pretty much every night produces a few new species, and my garden total now easily tops the ton. Astonishing - for anyone bar established moth-ers. Again, I find the names particularly fun. Coronet and Marbled Beauty. Grey Arches and Shears. Poplar Grey and Dingy Footman. And plenty of stuff I still need to work out!