Hopefully conditions have allowed you at least some time in your garden and you've enjoyed the blooming flowers and last of the busy birds.

It may go quiet on the birds front as they abandon your gardens and relax after the breeding season.

Fear not, there's plenty of equally fascinating alternatives on your doorstep – August is great for butterflies as your shrubs flourish – buddleia in particular is a butterfly magnet and will be teeming!

Moths come in all shapes and sizes and not just the ones we look at with horror in our wardrobes!

The colours are amazing and look out for the hummingbird hawk moth this month – fuschias, honeysuckle and many other common garden plants will attract them and they are simply stunning.

Bats are a lot more common than you think and on a summer evening you may spot one flitting about erratically over your garden.

They're quite sweet little creatures and contrary to popular belief they are not blind and they do not get tangled in your hair!

Thank goodness! Sadly, this time of year can bring nasty illnesses for our garden wildlife and the RSPB is warning that a bout of 'trichomoniasis' could once again affect our finches.

This is a parasite brought out during warmer weather and birds suffering will be generally lethargic and have trouble swallowing.

Good hygiene will reduce risk in your garden so make sure your birds' water is replaced frequently and feeders and baths are cleaned.

Enjoy summer while it lasts and make the most of housemartins and swallows in particular – they've replaced swifts as master or the skies for the time being and should be around for a while.