Purple Emperors

Two years ago whilst Sally was walking Rosie Dumpling dog through the Orchard area, a rather large purply black thing flapped up from the grass - too fast to be accurately identified, but definitely large, purple and flappy!

Sally is convinced it was a Purple emperor butterfly, something not seen in these here parts and so dismissed as probably not very likely....however recent research has revealed that Purple Emperors will be found around Goat Willow trees and guess where Sally saw her Purple Emperor? Yes, right beside just such a tree. So, in fact, it could be possible that we have had a rare butterfly pass through Paradise.