Brimstone butterfly Gonepteryx rhamni  -

These bright yellow butterflies are often the first butterflies to be seen in spring. Caterpillars are bluish-green with a pale line low down on each side. They feed on buckthorn and alder buckthorn. The pupa looks like a curled leaf. New adults emerge from their chrysalids in July and live until the following July. Adults hibernate over winter in woodlands and emerge on warm spring days. Brimstone butterflies are common in most of the UK. They are widespread throughout Europe and North Africa.
Photo by John Robinson ("johnr") http://www.genre.fsnet.co.uk.

This brown woodland butterfly does not feed from flowers but can instead be seen feeding on the honeydew secreted by aphids. Caterpillars feed on various grasses. It is widespread throughout Europe. Some male butterflies claim particular areas and defend them from rival butterflies. Speckled woods choose areas where the sunlight breaks through the trees. They patrol the patch and investigate every insect in the neighbourhood. They are on the look out for females to mate with or male intruders who they attack and chase away. You might see them spiralling up into the tree-tops, clashing wings with each other in battle. The butterfly that claimed the territory first usually wins. 

Common Darter

Damselflies are similar to dragonflies, but hold their wings vertically above their body when at rest.

Adults of damselflies and dragonflies are found near freshwater and all species have large eyes.

In spring the overwintering queens leave their hibernating quarters to seek nesting sites which could be in a hole in the ground, a hollow tree or artificial structures such as eaves, lofts and attics, garden sheds etc. The queen starts to build her nest with a papery material that she makes by chewing small pieces of wood mixed with saliva. She will raise the first few workers by her own efforts and those workers will then commence the enlargement of the nest and caring for the immature Wasps to follow. Workers will forage for food up to 400 metres from the nest. In the Autumn the young queens mate and leave the nest to hibernate, the rest of the nest dies out and the nest is never used again.

If you look carefully you may spot a brightly coloured Soldier Beetle