David

I’m not sure if this was a harlequin, or the melanistic form of the 2-spot ladybird (which has the red and black colours reversed). It was tiny, so perhaps a 2-spot.

A miniature marvel of Victorian engineering: windows in the roof of West Park Conservatory, the rods to open them from ground level, and counterbalances to make the opening and closing easier.

Towards the end of April, there was a day’s break from the persistent, heavy rain. But it was still so dull that the dandelions stayed closed up.

This was one of the smaller umbellifers – the plant was perhaps at knee level – and the first flowers were just beginning to open.

April was a good month for close-ups of plants after heavy rain.

Another ornamental fruit tree, possibly apple. This was in the field behind Compton lock.