Find out which early species to watch for, how to make your patch more butterfly-friendly and where to record your sightings for science

Handsome, chunky and often brightly marked, shieldbugs emerge in spring, quietly shaping the life of hedgerow and garden

Nadia Shaikh goes synaesthetic for the start of spring, almost tasting the orange tang of an early butterfly

Karen Youngs is on the lookout for nature’s collectibles during a sunny spring walk

After stumbling on this archive, Keith talks about his experiences with maggot colours

Let’s take a closer look at these colourful, handsome birds