All Aflutter
Temple Ewell Nature Reserve Dover.
Visit collection: Beautiful Creatures
The slopes are adrift
with grasses that quiver
The slightest breeze sends them a dither
Fragrant flowers amass on the slopes
Waiting patiently for their butterfly hosts.
As the sun's heat kisses the ground
The Downs come alive, activity abounds.
Glimpse flashes of flight
in the bright morning light,
Dressed in blue, blue as the sky
the lads bow to their ladies
who are dancing nearby, the
ladies shimmer in gowns of brown
All is aflutter
on the chalk hill Downs.
- All Aflutter
- Temple Ewell Nature Reserve
- Dover
- Kent
- UK
I would frequent Temple Ewell nature reserve on the North Downs to spot various butterflies and flowers throughout the seasons. Early summer was particularly rewarding. After the hot climb, I would sit quietly on a sheltered slope and watch. It never took long for a myriad of butterflies and other insects to frequent the abundant surrounding flowers. One particular year the timing and weather were perfect, flying low over a sheltered slope were thousands of blue butterflies, it went from saying, there's one, there's one, to silence as it became apparent something rather special was happening. Being surrounded by so many delicate creatures at once was breathtaking.