Last Thursday I took my annual train trip to Severn Tunnel Junction to look for White admirals in nearby Slade Wood, one of the few sites for this butterfly in Wales and the closest to me.

And, despite it being very windy and not particularly warm, I was not disappointed.

Three of these gorgeous gliders were seen along a side track where it was somewhat sheltered, but I saw none at all along the main ride, probably because of the weather conditions (seven White admirals had been seen the previous weekend when it had been sunny and still).

The White admiral (Limenitis camilla) adults feed on the blossom of Brambles and on honeydew, whereas their caterpillars feed on Honeysuckle so both plants are essential for a colony of these gliding beauties to thrive.