Seasons Series – June: Swans, Butterflies & Growing Fields

June has arrived, and with it comes the lush, humming beauty of early summer. In this latest instalment of my Seasons series, I set off from Rookery Bridge on the Trent and Mersey Canal in Sandbach, taking a gentle walk to our familiar starting point at Stabbers Bridge in Moston.

After May’s dry spell, June has brought moisture back to the land—and you can feel it. The air is thick, warm, and buzzing with life. Swans have taken up residence on Watch Flash, with Canada geese nesting just across the water. Along the path, the nettles are high—a perfect haven for insects—and I was lucky enough to spot a butterfly fresh from its chrysalis, drying its wings in the sunlight.

From Crabmill Lane, we cut across the fields where the maize that was just sprouting last month now stands proudly at a foot high. What once looked like grass has revealed itself to be wheat, already knee deep and vibrant green.

A turn onto Plant Lane brings more wheat and a field alive with buttercups and clover—a real midsummer tapestry. We finish along Oakwood Lane, skirting The Moat nature reserve, where, true to form, the lane remains reliably wet year-round.

This peaceful walk captures the heart of June: growth, humidity, and the first real sense of summer. July will complete our journey through the year, and I can’t wait to share the full cycle with you.

🎥 Watch the video now and take in the sights, sounds, and subtle changes of the season.