I recently left a patch of un-mown grass around a tree stump, mainly because of the Snake's head fritillaries and interesting Geraniums growing there, but also for a slightly wilder look. It's amazing how quickly the grass shot up, and whenever I glance down into it I see a large meadow trying to get out. It's quite astounding how plants and insects will colonise and be right at home in such a short time.

At the weekend I noticed some movement and looked closer to find a fairly large Grass spider – about 25mm across including the legs and one of the finer looking spiders about. At least I'm fairly sure that's what it is, but the internet disappoints in bringing definitive photographic clarification, in that all the things out there labelled "grass spider" don't look quite the same.