The arrival of swifts heralds the onset of summer as they return here to breed from their wintering grounds in Africa. Summer is also a great time for flowers. Great burnet, water mint and meadowsweet are among those that thrive here in the meadows and wet grasslands, attracting butterflies such as range-tip and common blue. You will see many types of dragonfly and damselfly, including hairy dragonfly and banded demoiselle, hovering over the lake edges and ditches hunting for insects. Also look out for grass snakes basking in the sun.