This week I was lucky enough to be given a book written and illustrated by Major CWR Knight, published in 1921. He was a keen bird photographer who had served in the First World War as a sniper.

He always carried his camera as well as his rifle and kept sane often in the heat of a battle by photographing birds as well as taking pot shots at the enemy. He was amazed at how well wildlife coped in these conditions, realising that war to them was just a period of very regular thunderstorms but with quiet periods in between.

On one occasion the major was keeping a wary eye open for Germans but whilst he was enclosed in the branches of a tree he was able to take some wonderful photographs of herons at their nest.

Modern photographers produce some good colour shots using a host of sophisticated equipment while this brave chap had to fiddle with things like focus and then during a rest period develop and print his black and white photographs – all this while facing the possibility of being shot. Even today the quality of his photographs must be the envy of those who shoot birds at the present time.

IT'S A DANGER SIGNAL

At one time the British Crayfish was very common in rivers and was called the Fresh Water Lobster.

It was once an important item of diet. It is still found very rarely in our rivers but requires plenty of calcium for its external skeleton to develop properly.

At one time pollution in our rivers devastated the population but just as it was starting to recover the American or signal Crayfish was introduced into restaurants and escaped.

This carries with it a fungus which is lethal to our crayfish and also the Signal is much larger. Our native Crayfish can reach 6½ inches in length whilst the signal is nearly twice the size.

The British crayfish is grey in colour whilst there is a lot of red on the body of the signal as well as a white patch on each of the huge claws.

Sue Morgan photographed a signal crayfish in an East Lancashire river and the more of these there are the less likely it is that our native crayfish will be able to survive. This is yet another danger signal to our wildlife.

WHERE TO WATCH WILDLIFE: Astley Hall, Chorley

Apart from the obvious attractions of the Tudor and Jacobean Hall and the pond around it, Astley Hall should not be missed at this time of the year. The circular footpath passes through woodlands which are largely broad leaved and native species.

This is the chance to identify the shape of the different species of leaf and fruits like sycamore, oak and horse chestnut. If this walk is repeated in the winter the will be a chance to identify the various buds and twigs of our trees.

It is not just Astley which offers this chance of a summer stroll through the trees.

Other old halls like those at Towneley in Burnley, Gawthorpe in Padiham, Witton Park in Blackburn and Turton Tower, between Blackburn and Bolton, are all worth a visit. They are all lovely places to enjoy a summer picnic.