The annual horror of the early summer flail has happened this week. There must be some regulation (E.U.?) that allows highway authorities, local authorities, farmers and landowners to flail road verges, field headlands and byway verges at this time of year. The result of this clumsy, heavy-duty tractor flailing is the all late spring flowering plants are cut back to the ground and all resulting colour and diversity suddenly gone (the root systems of perennials will, of course, save them for next year). The authorities, farmers and landowners seem determined to tear-back right to the bottom of any boundary hedge. From a botanical perspective it is the early summer rape.