It's Official - the Hottest June Day for 40 Years

Heathrow Airport recorded almost 34C today (34.2C here in Northampton). It's the fifth hot day in a row and newspapers are running out of headlines such as 'Phew, What A Scorcher' and, 'Hotter than Mallorca'. It's also the longest day and should still be light enough to read outdoors at 9.30pm.

It's been so hot that, apart from a few birds, all wildlife seemed to have disappeared from the garden - until this afternoon when the first Small Tortoiseshell butterfly of the year appeared on my Buddleia.