Tony Norman and Catherine Janson have sent in fabulous photos of unusual double form of cuckoo flower (also known as ladies smock) in profusion in a meadow in Pembridge earlier in May.

Tony thinks that the grazing regime has really suited these plants and they are increasing in number each year. “We tend to graze the fields with groups of cattle 1 at a time ( Mob grazing!) and that field has always been the last because it is wetter and slower growing – so it doesn’t get grazed till June. The previous regime was sheep/cattle more or less set stocked”. This is in comparison to “other fields nearby that are grazed or cut and have nothing like the diversity of plants” 

Anyone with other interesting or unusual forms of plants please send photos to Caroline Hanks