Is there anything more delicious on a hot sunny day than the refreshing smell of mint, whether it be in a long cold drink or when you’re out walking and brush against the leaves of one of the many species of mint that grow wild in the UK.

In the damper areas of my local walks, Water mint (Mentha aquatica) grows in abundance, and it’s now in full flower, a boon for hungry insects as some of the earlier summer flowers go to seed. I occasionally bring a few leaves home to infuse with a herbal tea that I leave to chill in the fridge but mostly I just enjoy the sight and smell of this pretty plant and the many insects that feast on it (in this case, Meadow brown and Small copper butterflies, and a Volucella zonaria hoverfly).