As I reported last year (The illegals, 30 May 2023), some person or persons unknown have illegally introduced Marsh fritillary butterflies to Lavernock Nature Reserve.

Judging by the number of butterflies that have emerged there over the past week, the illegal fiddling continues – the amount of Devil’s-bit scabious growing in their field could not have supported the larvae necessary to produce the number of butterflies now being seen so it seems likely that more larvae or pupae have been planted.

Regardless of their provenance, the butterflies themselves are as magical and magnificent as ever, and it’s an absolute joy to watch them.