The Beatles??

What a glorious day the 'longest day' has been.

Mine started with an eight mile circular walk with the dogs along the Ridgeway. It felt good to be in the vicinity of the Neolithic Waylands Smithy for the Summer Solstice. (not that I'm thinking of becoming a Druid any time soon).

We encountered a hare, 3 jays, 2 deer and narrowly avoided a disaster, when a number of galloping horses came towards us. Usually, a man in a 4 x 4 goes ahead of the horses to warn walkers that they are approaching but this time he decided to drive across to me after they'd gone by, to tell me that they won't be back for another hour. Some use that piece of information was! For once, the dogs came to me the first time I called them. I've never been more relieved in my life.

This thistle is completely infested with a beetle called the 'Meligethes Aeneus' or Pollen Beetle. They are usually attracted to yellow flowers and occur in large numbers, feeding mainly on pollen and killing the flower off. They are a pest of Oil Seed Rape and this thistle was growing on the edge of a Rape field.

Large is good for this one.