What is it with wasps at this time of year? I was cycling home from work yesterday when one landed on my arm and immediately stung me.

I was marshalling the juniors recently at Lantern Pike, an U8 girl came past me and said "I've just been stung by a wasp - and it really hurt" - it was still stuck to her arm and it took me 3 attempts to brush it off. A minute later an adult came along with his child, and he'd just been stung as well!

To change the subject, we were sat having tea on Tuesday when a Sparrowhawk landed on the table on the patio. It was clearly eyeing up the sparrows in the Pyracantha growing up the wall. It flew across, into the shrub and started making its way through the branches. Its wings were getting tangled and I thought it had no chance of catching a small, agile bird. Sure enough, out it hopped a few seconds later with a House Sparrow clutched in its talons. Fascinating stuff!