Ditton Parish Council - Ditton Quarry in June

Kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) is the sole food plant for the caterpillars of the small blue butterfly (not yet seen on the quarry) - a species in severe decline.

photograph of Kidney vetch (yellow) and Vipers bugloss (violet) at Ditton Quarry

Kidney vetch (yellow) and Vipers bugloss (violet) at Ditton Quarry

Vipers bugloss (Echium vulgare) is a beautiful biennial plant with violet blue flowers and long red stamens. It thrives in southern England on chalky or sandy soil and open sites. Bees and butterflies love it!

Small blue butterfly

Common mallow (Malva sylvestris) grows to height of around 90cm. The flowers have five pink petals with darker, almost purple, lines running through them. The glue-like sap from the leaves is known to have therapeutic qualities and can be used as a soothing agent in treating bites and stings.

photograph of Common mallow and stonecrop
Common mallow and stonecrop

The yellow stone-crop is a member of the sedums and has water-storing leaves.

The caterpillars of the common blue (Polyommatus icarus) feed on bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus).

photograph of Common blue butterfly on bird’s foot trefoil

Common blue butterfly on bird’s foot trefoil

On sunny days you can sometimes find the butterflies feeding together in small colonies. It's the most commonly seen of all the blue butterflies.

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Text by Dr Michelle Fountain.
Photos credit to Mike Easterbrook.

Ditton Parish Council *...in the Garden of England...*
Ditton Court Quarry in June

Kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) is the sole food plant for the caterpillars of the small blue butterfly (not yet seen on the quarry) - a species in severe decline. Kidney vetch (yellow) and Vipers bugloss (violet) at Ditton Quarry Vipers bugloss (Echium vulgare) is a beautiful biennial plant with violet blue flowers and long red stamens. It thrives in southern England on chalky or sandy soil and open sites. Bees and butterflies love it! Small blue butterfly Common mallow (Malva sylvestris) grows to height of around 90cm. The flowers have five pink petals with darker, almost purple, lines running through them. The glue-like sap from the leaves is known to have therapeutic qualities and can be used as a soothing agent in treating bites and stings. Common mallow and stonecrop The yellow stone-crop is a member of the sedums and has water-storing leaves. The caterpillars of the common blue (Polyommatus icarus) feed on bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Common blue butterfly on bird’s foot trefoil On sunny days you can sometimes find the butterflies feeding together in small colonies. It's the most commonly seen of all the blue butterflies. ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ Text by Dr Michelle Fountain. Photos credit to Mike Easterbrook.