Perhaps as a result of the late spring delaying their appearance, it seems to me that wild flowers have benefitted somewhat?

For, suddenly they are blooming en masse and in even more glorious vibrant colours than usual. But there again, because we have waited so long to see them maybe our appreciation of them is heightened?

Anyway, primroses, wood anemones, cowslips, ramsons, green alkanet, ground ivy, celandine and more and in waterside habitats marsh marigolds shine in the sun.

One of my favourites, the delicate fritillary (pictured) with nodding bell-like chequered purple or white flowers is flourishing in protected habitats such as the London Wetland Centre, National Trust properties and especially Wakehurst Place in Sussex.

A lover of moist meadows, the fritillary was at one time common but a variety of agricultural practices has greatly reduced the population countrywide in common with other traditional species of cornfields  and meadows like poppies and corncockles.

Grassy banks are ablaze with glowing golden dandelions. Classed by gardeners as troublesome weeds, the flowers are vital lifelines for butterflies and insects out of hibernation and I love them too!

The pointed lobes of dandelion leaves resemble lion's teeth, hence its common name which is a corruption of the French 'dent-de-lion'.

Even tiny lawn daisies are a treat to see as they open on sunny days and now the time has come for massed drifts of bluebells to open and carpet woodlands in a haze of violet-blue or white.