This is the time of year – the time of year, when our chalk grasslands are at their very best. Unparalleled for their diversity of flowers and pollinators. Walking through the sward, the entire hillside, clicks, buzzes and moves, with the diversity of nature and life.

A visit to the downland will undoubtedly result in finding lots of orchids: Common spotted, Pyramidal, Fragrant and bee orchids, pepper the grassland. A harder, but rewarding find is the odd-looking Frog orchid. This inconspicuous orchid needs short, tightly grazed grassland, and will be found on sunny sides of hills, but doesn’t like it too dry. This orchid is a Section 41 Priority Species and is listed as vulnerable on the GB Red list, and is listed on the County Rare Plants Register, so it’s a delight to have it on the NNR.

Of course, a visit to site will also yield plenty of butterfly spots: after the low numbers of butterflies seen last year due to the previous seasons being very wet, it’s been heartening to see lots of butterflies back on the wing including familiar favourites like Marbled whites and Dark green fritillaries.

What a lot of our visitors don’t expect to come across is Odonata: Dragonflies and Damselflies. Predominantly these species are found in wet habitats, like faster-flowing rivers, however they can be found to stray into dry habitats like chalk grasslands. At Aston Rowant we have a small dew pond, and some of our neighbours also have ponds, allowing these species to flit between the habitats. One of my favourite Odonata species is the Beautiful demoiselle – and the name isn’t wrong! Males are metallic blue in colour, whilst females are a vivid, iridescent green. Males can be spotted flitting over-head, in an enthusiastic courtship display.

There is plenty to see and enjoy on the nature reserve this summer: do make the most of the long days and take pleasure in seeing how many different butterflies you can spot this year on the reserve, whilst enjoying the wonderful smelling herbs like Marjoram.