A day trip to the North Kent coast. Walking from Chestfield and Swalecliffe to Whitstable I was pleased to see lots of Hog Fennel (Peucedanum officinale) which is only found in a few locations in the UK in Kent and Essex. Tankerton Slopes as seen above is said to be the largest colony and it seems to be particularly abundant this year. 

Six-Spot Burnet on Field Scabious.

 

The south is parched -particularly on chalk- but the wildflowers persist.

 The Globe Thistles and the Sea Hollies look like they might be related...

...but they belong to different genera: Echinops and Eryngium.

 Both are much visited by bees.

 

 The Jersey Tiger is no longer confined to the southernmost parts of England. It's range is extending northwards; I see quite regularly in London and Hertfordshire. The striped forewing is striking; the orange underwing is spectacular when it unfurls in flight.

 

 A mixed herbaceous border is manna for pollinators.

 

 A few months ago I planted three small pots of Fennel in the herb garden I made at the music school. Now they're rampant! Fennel will tough it out on poor, parched ground but here it grows in a rich loamy compost that's watered regularly. The difference is plain to see.