Grassland wonder

Plantlife once calculated that around a sixth of native British wildflowers are yellow. The colour comes from the pigment lutein, and is why bird’s-foot trefoil, which can turn July meadows and road verges gold, was formerly used to dye fabric. In common with other members of the pea family, this botanical wonder is able to fix nitrogen in the soil. It’s also popular with many bees and caterpillars, including those of the six-spot burnet moth and common blue butterfly – adults of both species are on the wing this month.

GET INVOLVED

Take part in the Great British Wildflower Hunt: plantlife.org.uk/wildflowerhunt