No mow May: domestic lawn hosts FOUR orchid species and is one big bird table and insect-rich habitat.

A pair of greenfinches feasting on cat's ear leaves, which is a favourite for goldfinches too. 

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A fragrant orchid in flower for the second year.  Elsewhere, other first year fragrant orchid rosettes will hopefully flower next year.  A few seed heads were collected in earlier years where there were hundreds on the South Downs and the seeds scattered on the lawn.  Note also copious yellow rattle flowers and ox-eye daises.

Common spotted orchid, one of more than a dozen.

Above fragrant and below southern marsh orchids (SMO) protected from rampaging foxes by an improvised fireguard.  This year a second SMO plant and flower has grown and there is a third tiny flower emerged by one of the ponds protected now by holly branches brash.  The forth orchid species is Common Twayblade: two flower spikes hidden in the grass but obvious before the grass grew up after a winter cut.