The springtime riches of Strawberry Hill Nature Reserve are well known and sought after by local groups and enthusiasts, all hoping to experience a cacophony of bird song, including the vocally striking but visually elusive Nightingales. As such, I spend much of my time in spring guiding visitors on walks to experience these wonders. While this is undoubtedly a special experience and one which I enjoy being a part of – watching their reactions as they take in the lush tones of the Nightingale or their first Cuckoo call of the season (often closely followed by a 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th calling Cuckoo), I endeavour to encourage visitors to return in the summertime, to witness the reserve come alive in a different way. I receive far fewer requests for summertime walks, but despite this, and in my own humble opinion, summertime is the most visually rewarding time of the year. 

June has always been a special time of the year for me (and not just because it’s my birthday month!). It heralds the onset of summer, bringing longer, warmer days (granted they were a little too warm this year) and the sudden blossoming of many flowering plant species – and with that the incessant hum of insects – the sound of abundant life and a healthy ecosystem. Summer is the time when life as a reserves officer slows down, just slightly, and we get to see for ourselves the benefits of the work that we do throughout the winter months. The rather bare and bleak looking openings and thoroughfares where my tireless volunteers incessantly sawed, lopped and strimmed suddenly blossom into verifiable glades and meandering rides, alive with life, colour and texture. 

A nod to the summer season wouldn’t be complete without a nod to my butterfly surveyors, who between them commit themselves to 6 months of weekly surveys from April until the end of September. Strawberry Hill has a diverse butterfly assemblage with 26 species recorded on site, with this year having been a great time to see them in flight. While it is too early to compare data from previous years, anecdotally it would seem that the hot dry weather experienced in the spring and early summer this year has been beneficial to our butterfly populations, after a disappointing year in 2024. Individual success stories do however appear to vary, with some species, such as the Ringlet and Gatekeeper, seemingly having a real boom year – with one transect totalling 638 butterflies including 250 Ringlets and 226 Gatekeepers! While other species, such as the Speckled Wood butterfly, which favours damp, shady areas with dappled sunlight, seemingly appearing in lower numbers along our transects this year.   

In other butterfly news it was fantastic to discover the presence of Black Hairstreak butterflies on site this year, thanks to an eagle-eyed visitor who recorded his findings with the local recorder. The sighting was then confirmed by several local experts with at least three individuals seen in flight on one visit. Black Hairstreaks are considered an endangered species in Great Britain, a regional priority species in the East of England and a priority species with Butterfly Conservation. So, their presence at Strawberry Hill is special and exciting. I look forward to working with my volunteers next year to determine the extent of the Black Hairstreak population on site.  

So, there it is, summer is a great time to visit Strawberry Hill too. If you are a member of a group that is considering a visit to Strawberry Hill in 2026, please consider a summertime visit. There is lots to see and explore, even if the birds have settled down and gone quiet. 

If you have any insights, records or questions about Strawberry Hill, please feel free to contact me at chantelle.warriner@wildlifebcn.org.