Steve Downer / Timelapse of Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) flowers opening, UK, April.

Guy Edwardes / 2020VISION / Ladybird on Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom, Somerset Levels, Somerset, England, UK, April

Andrew Parkinson / 2020VISION / Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) adult perched in Blackthorn hedgerow with insect prey for young, Hope Farm RSPB reserve, Cambridgeshire, UK, May

Colin Varndell / Female Orange tip butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines) at rest on Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom. Dorset, UK April

Colin Varndell / Close up of Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom, Spring, Dorset, UK

Niall Benvie / Photograph of Blackthorn blossom (Prunus spinosa) manipulated and text added to represent illustrated book page. Scotland, UK, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / della F / Lichens growing on a Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) near Zadrzani village, Northern Livanjsko Polje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, May 2009

Alan Williams / Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) male singing perched on Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom, Essex, UK, May

Andy Sands / Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) in full song among Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom, Hertfordshire, England, UK.

Phil Savoie / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), flowers, Monmouthshire, Wales, UK, April

Phil Savoie / Orange tailed mining bee (Halictus rubicundus) feeding on Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. April.

Phil Savoie / Orange tailed mining bee (Halictus rubicundus) male feeding on Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. April.