Railway Fields in early June: what to look for

June, with its bright sunshine, warm days and sudden sharp downpours, sees the appearance of a sea of colour in the wildflower meadows and down Railway Passage at Railway Fields Nature Reserve this week. 

Hurrah for the sainfoin - this pretty pink flower is especially loved by honey bees- its name derives from old French and literally means "healthy hay"

"The herb is called sain-foin in France, in Italy herba medica, in Provence and the Languedoc luzerne. From the inordinate praise the plant has been given, for its medical virtues and for fattening the livestock that graze on it, comes the term sain."

Look out for Birds-Foot Trefoil, so named because the flowers are supposed to resemble birds feet (also sometimes referred to as Granny's toenails - perhaps not quite such a pleasant image?). It is mainly pollinated by bees and is the larval food plant for a number of moth species including both six and five spot burnet and the common blue butterfly.

Just coming into flower all over the site is the dog-rose, the most abundant of our native wild roses. In autumn, its bright red rose hips provide food for birds and small mammals 

Delicate little vetch nestles by the Railway Passage path, quietly attracting bees

Easily mistaken for dandelions, the bright yellow flowers of the hawks-beard can be spotted along Railway Passage. Loved by insects and food for moths, the seeds are also a food source for sparrows and goldfinches.

Railway Fields is open on weekdays (some days you may encounter school parties on mini-beast safaris) and there are some weekend openings - keep an eye on the What's On pages for details.

Friends of Railway Fields also have a website to check for upcoming events.