IN the middle of June, a supposedly unwelcome visitor came into bloom on what any cowboy builder would recognise as a patio.

If you were reading Freetime about a year ago, you will recall a plea from a horse owner that we should nip all ragworts in the bud, as it poisons horses.

I did not and for a full month it bloomed unmolested, its 26 stems reaching a height of nearly five feet (1473mm in the new easy-to-use system).

Then nature prevailed - a passing Cinnabar Moth laid its eggs and the leaves became covered in wasp-striped caterpillars, but too late to weaken the plant which is now busy ripening its two thousand seeds. As the caterpillars taste nasty, predators leave them be.

In olden days, these pests donned their nosebags early in the plant's life, leaving it limited strength to grow and bear seed, but pesticides sprayed by farmers and local authorities have reduced their numbers.

How many years since you have seen a Red Admiral (nettles) or the very common Cabbage White (lettuces)? Farmers have got rid of many costly pests and now they are rich beyond their imaginings, aren't they?

All this makes me visualise a gardener pausing with his bug-buster spray, saying: 'Oh look dear, a butterfly.'

The Cinnabar Moth is also attractive with its rear wings red, front red spots and bar. Regrettably its caterpillars are creepy-crawlies and must be killed, leaving Ragworts to flourish.

Those of you who ventured to visit The Rye a few years ago may have encountered Water Voles (destroyed on the Wye by canalisation and now on the south bank of the Dyke to halt erosion), frogs and dragonflies (they disappeared, then so did the vegetation in the Dyke, but this is being investigated).

I am told a few Pipistrelle bats survive so there must be flying insects but, despite the recent reduction in the use of herbicides, butterflies no longer visit the area.

This must in part be due to over-zealous management with plants cut back to the river's edge and a wide margin by the path at the rear. Even the swans have to nest in the open - and do you remember the Kingfishers?

Incidentally, for those with an interest in The Rye, a public meeting is to be held at the Reggie Goves Centre at a quarter to eight on Tuesday, August 15 - nature lovers, footballers and those who would prefer a pleasuredrome are equally welcome.

Frank Brunner

Station Road

High Wycombe