Common spotted orchid

The first of these appeared last year and this year so far I have found 4 in far flung corners of the garden. This one is plonk in the middle of the grass at the back of the house. I have cut carefully round it and hope that it, and the others, seed for next year.

A big final assembly today with one of the Coldstream Guards giving out the prizes. It is really a fab link that the town has with the Regiment - and one that we are all very proud to have. All the P7's had their photos taken wearing his bearskin! The troops are off to Afghanistan in September so we will all be filling boxes for them and writing letters and postcards. We get letters of thanks from them in return which makes a very personal link.

Happy day - but rather wet!!