Helping to keep some youngsters occupied is Sudbury Library, once again running its summer reading challenge. The theme this year is the Big Wild Read and, hopefully, plenty of youngsters will be getting involved.

When out, particularly on the Sudbury Common Lands, I hope those taking part might see their local environment in a slightly different light. For those with a little time, many surprising and wonderful facets of our natural environment can be seen – every bit as fascinating as delving into those seaside summer holiday rock-pools.

Children taking part can submit a picture or a photograph inspired or taken on the Sudbury riverside. So why not get involved?

The young skylarks on North Meadow Common have fledged and moved off, as grazing and thistle topping reduce the cover. All being well, the adults will be back next February or March to reclaim their breeding territory.

The short grassland enables interesting wetland plants to become established as the years pass and this process has become much more noticeable as plants colonise new parts of the commons and in greater abundance.

It is interesting to see which plant and animal species have been able to recolonise the once-bland and rather neglected riverside meadows, following the restoration of the network of dykes and ponds.

Work to maintain these systems is, of course, ongoing, otherwise they would soon silt up and return to the grassy cattlegrazed depressions that they were less than 20 years ago.

Although the season has not been too favourable, dragonflies are still much in evidence. Young frogs can be found along the margins of the dykes and leeches and pond snails are very obvious when they come to the surface.

Botanically, the flowering rush is now displaying its colourful pink umbels here and there. This is another plant on the scarce plant register, being recorded at about 40 sites in the county.

The diminutive blue-flowered skullcap is putting on a good show on the edge of the big channel on Fullingpit Meadow and that annual of disturbed wet ground, trifid bur marigold, is about to burst into flower in the same area, as a result of winter dyke clearance with the JCB.

Restrictions following the news of the foot and mouth disease in Surrey mean that no cattle can be moved to or from the Sudbury riverside, and any stock-related problems must be treated in the field.

To this end, the young Highland with the deformed horn is being treated on-site. Veterinary care has been provided and hopefully the animal will not experience any discomfort.

He will be closely monitored, and treated as necessary. Sudbury was fortunate to miss out on the headline-grabbing torrential rainfall that has caused flooding in many parts of England.

Storms in this region were localised, leading to only modest river level rises, albeit laden with sediment from road run-off and agricultural land.