Thanks to volunteer Phil for his article and photos.
One of my favourite sights of Pulborough Brooks in summer is the splash of magenta colour provided by the tall flower spikes of Purple Loosestrife. These can be seen in profusion mostly fringing the ditches of the North Brooks between June and August. This photo was taken from Nettley’s Hide in mid-July, perhaps the peak of the season.
You can enjoy this display at close quarters at the Ditch Dipping Platforms and the Wetland Discovery Zone,
Purple Loosestrife is a common plant of marshes and riverbanks. The flowers are often visited by bees, hoverflies and other pollinators but are also frequented by butterflies which add to the colour spectacle. I have photographic records of several different butterflies feeding on the nectar including Red Admiral, Holly Blue, and Meadow Brown.
Green-veined Whites also feed on Purple Loosestrife, very apt as this butterfly species is often associated with damp habitats.
In my view however the colour combination when bright lemon-yellow Brimstone butterflies gently flutter between the flowers, as seen in these photos taken recently, cannot be beaten.
Apparently, Brimstones seem to have a preference for purple flowers in summer and yellow flowers in spring.
On Friday 25 August I started to notice that some of the flowers were starting to fade but there is still colour left to enjoy. This will continue into early September when my floral enthusiasm will turn to the less colourful but extremely nectar-rich Ivy.