The beginning of June marks the start of the 30 Days Wild Challenge, aiming to get people inspired to be active and do one wild thing each day for an entire month. This could range from going on hike to your favourite nature spot, or simply sitting in your gardens and taking in the sights and sounds of nature that surround you.

As we slowly begin to shift from spring to summer, we notice a change in the wildlife that is present around us. We begin to see migrations in different species of birds such as Swallows swooping and soaring through the air on warm days, or the iconic call of a Cuckoo ringing across the countryside on a pleasant afternoon. For me, the changing of seasons from spring to summer can also be signified by our butterflies and moths. Many of our spring species will be approaching the end of their season this month, but you are still in with a great chance to see some of our county’s charismatic species.

From dazzling Green Hairstreaks with a love for basking in the sun, to the Marsh Fritillary with colourful wings that are reminiscent of ancient Rome mosaics. Both these species along with many others will stick around until the end of June but will then be joined by a new cast of butterflies that you can keep your eyes peeled for right now, and throughout the whole summer period.

These range from humble Meadow Browns, and Gatekeepers you can find in most green spaces and gardens, to the azure of the Common and Silver – Studded Blues in grasslands and heathlands. Or you can try your luck at finding one of Wiltshire’s most majestic, the Purple Emperor. A lot of luck will be needed to spot his imperial majesty in the last days of June and early July should you attempt that challenge, but the potential reward will far outweigh the time and effort.

So, with 30 Days Wild well underway, set yourself a challenge. How many species of butterfly can you spot in your local green spaces? As well as butterflies, will you be lucky to spot some of our day-flying moths such as the Hummingbird Hawk Moth? A species so named for its way of movement and can be seen moving quickly from flower to flower similarly to its avian counterpart. So, get out there, see what you can find, and get wild!