Since I spotted my first Clouded yellow butterfly in mid June I’ve seen many more – more, in fact, than I’ve ever seen before.

During a wander around Cosmeston Lakes Country Park on 19 July I saw 8, and I didn’t walk every possible path so I’m sure there were more than that total.

Five days later, on 24 July, at the same location, I counted 11.

And, during almost every one of my daily walks since then, both at Cosmeston and at other locations, I’ve seen at least 1 Clouded yellow.

Their golden presence in our local fields might well be the only positive thing about this summer of record-breaking temperatures, continuing heatwaves (our fifth of the year is forecast for this coming week), and now, officially, drought conditions.