My annual pilgrimage to Slade Wood, in the neighbouring county of Monmouthshire, on Thursday 2 July, was an absolute joy! If you’ve been here a while, you’ll know that I go to the woodland each year around the beginning of July as it’s the closest, most accessible location for me to try and see two very special butterfly species.

This year I only managed to see two White admirals (Limenitis camilla), and one of those was just a tantalising glimpse as it flew across the woodland ride above me. And, though I waited and watched, it did not reappear. Luckily for me, about a third of the way along the main ride I spotted a second White admiral moving around the lower branches of a tree. These butterflies often have a favourite perch they return to frequently – I hoped I had found it but, unfortunately, the butterfly flew off and also did not reappear.

The Silver-washed fritillaries (Argynnis paphia) were much more numerous, and more co-operative, and the reason for my joy. In fact, I saw more of them at Slade Wood that day that I’ve ever seen in previous years. I’m not talking about hundreds of butterflies but somewhere between ten and twenty, and they’re just the ones I could see along the ride; there were sure to be more gliding around amongst the trees.

These butterflies are large, impressive, stunningly beautiful. Having them float past within inches of me, chase each other among the vegetation, settle to feed within touching distance – moments like these are bliss for a butterfly lover like me.