This year has seen the ivy cloaking the trellis panels covered in flower and now, just when needed, berries. Ivy goes through four distinct cycles before starting to flower – although planted some years ago, it is only in the last couple of summers that it has really come into its own.

At the end of July last year, we watched second generation female Holly Blues lay their eggs on the tiny, still forming, berries and kept an eye on the caterpillars as they grew before crawling off to pupate.

By the middle of August, the small green caterpillars had hatched but were quite hard to spot as they blended in beautifully with the forming fruits. Interestingly, the majority of eggs had been laid in a shaded area, out of full sun for most of the day.

Now the remaining fruit is providing a bonus for the song thrush and blackbirds as they scour the ivy to find the fattest berries.

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