Ahead lie several months of grazing to maintain this traditional landscape in good order.

With the summer months upon us, the volunteer rangers are now out and about in their distinctive uniform tops.

Their role is absolutely crucial to the continuation of grazing on the riverside as there are still people who are oblivious to the problems associated with approaching or interfering with the livestock.

Any of the volunteer rangers will be able to explain the importance of grazing on the Sudbury Common Lands, so why not stop for a word when you see them “over the meadows”?

Life in the natural world is at its busiest at this time of year. New generations are growing in water and on land. Early species of damsel and dragonflies are now emerging, their transparent wings glinting in the sunlight.

The first family of cygnets were out on the water by the middle of May and a mother with her family provides one of the most accessible wonders of nature on our riverside.

Proud father does his duty by clearing all interloping swans from his territory. It is, however, a tough business for young birds and animals to grow to maturity and many do not survive.

One sunny afternoon a common buzzard spent some time soaring gracefully on thermals high above Fullingpit Meadows.

After centuries of persecution, these birds are now breeding in every county in England and pairs are nesting within a few miles of Sudbury. In a decade or so this magnificent bird will be a very common site indeed over the riverside pastures.

Herons are large and easily recognisable birds and they are fascinating to watch as they move carefully through the shallows, searching for anything to eat from fish to frog.

On wing they make rather stately and laboured progress over the pastures before dropping down to the margins of a quiet watercourse.

The warm spring weather, coupled with strong southerly winds, has brought a reasonable number of Painted Lady butterflies to our shores.

These will breed and the native generation will grace our gardens and countryside later in the summer, although none survives our winters.

For those interested in the riverside, its landscape and its wildlife, log on to www.sudburycommonlandscharity.org.

This site will provide images of the Sudbury Common Lands through the seasons and also has information about the charity, its work and its needs.