Surrey certainly has some glorious countryside.One of my long-term favourite locations is Denbies hillside near Ranmore.

I'm here on a hot July afternoon under a deep blue summer sky with just a wisp of 'mackerel' cloud behind me.

Ahead,the hillside slopes down,the vegetation looking as lush as I've ever seen it.Meadow brown,gatekeeper,marbled white and skipper butterflies flit restlessly in the heat among the tall grasses,thistles,scabious and thyme which abound while grasshoppers 'zizz-zizz-zizz'

But the star of the show is the beautiful chalk-hill blue butterfly,males boasting pale silvery-blue upper wings (see photo)while females are brown.Males are brightly coloured to defend territories and attract mates, constantly on the wing apart from rapid top-ups of nectar but females rest in the grass to avoid predators.Males also perch on animal droppings to imbibe vital salts and minerals.

Walking slowly downhill,I soak up the stunning view ahead.In the valley below a train,toylike in the distance rumbles towards West Humble past herds of black cattle browsing in the lush pastures.In the far distance is Leith Hill,almost hazy in the mist.

Bird sounds are minimal,the only calls being those of a buzzard mewing in the faraway woods.Sadly,no yellowhammers sing as they did here years ago.On a chalky path rests the huge empty shell of a Roman snail,common here since being imported by the Roman legions as part of their diet.

At the foot of the hill I look down to the spot where a few years ago I nearly stepped on an adder sunning itself before slithering away,no doubt even more scared than I was!