June and July are months to celebrate the glory of the wildlife garden. Our revamped meadow is a blaze of colour – purple Corn Cockle and Vervain, yellow Evening Primrose and Corn Marigold, blue Cornflower and Vipers Bugloss, pink Mallow. Our loganberries are abundant, Beetroot thriving, Tomatoes forming.

Wildlife is thriving too. A single week we spotted mating White Tailed Bumblebees, a record five Southern Hawker Dragonflies emerging from the pond, and male and female Stag Beetles. Now the hot weather is encouraging more insects to appear – Grasshoppers, and Small Skipper Butterflies.

However, this sudden bout of hot weather is challenging for the garden and our volunteers. With the thermometer recording 34C (93F) at 10.15am on Wednesday 24th June, we closed the garden after watering the tubs and refreshing the water for the birds and other wildlife. Our water butts are getting low and the ponds also urgently need some rain. Working out what plants will build resilience and longevity into the garden in the face of Climate change is a major priority for the next years.

We are now getting ready for our Annual Open Day on Saturday 25th July. Open from 12 noon to 4pm, come along to see the changes to the garden since last year, join in the Big Butterfly Count, bring children and grandchildren for a bug hunt, check out the latest news about our honey bees, and find out about the trees and wildflowers we have in the garden. Find us at Cortis Avenue (between Nos 42 & 44), Broadwater, BN14 7BG. On- street parking, buses to Broadwater Church.