July is the month when I become another year older. Fortunately for me, my birthday coincides with the peak flight-time for one of our most beautiful butterflies, the Chalkhill Blue.
Of the handful of places where it can be seen in our counties, my favourite of all is Hexton Chalk Pit Nature Reserve in the far north of Hertfordshire. As its name suggests, this is a place where chalk was quarried. The former industrial use has created an undulating landform, full of mounds and hollows, ups and downs – one of our best reserves for a satisfying game of hide and seek if you have children in your charge.