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Named after Wilbur Scoville who invented the test in 1912, the Scoville Scale gives us an idea of how much capsaicin is in a chilli pepper – the substance that gives us that unique heat sensation when we add chilli to our food. Of course, some varieties are renowned for being hotter than others, but the age of the pepper and how it is grown can both make a big difference.

At one time, the chilli extract would be diluted in water until the heat could no longer be detected by a panel of tasters. But these days, a more scientific approach is used using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). According to the Guinness World Records, the world’s hottest chilli is the ‘Carolina Reaper’ with an eye-watering score of 2.2 million Scoville units. But this is currently being challenged by Mike Smith in Denbighshire with his fiery ‘Dragon’s Breath’.

(www.chm.bris.ac.uk)

Gardens are thought to provide an important haven for butterflies in autumn. As food sources start to dwindle in the countryside, the adults rely on late-flowering plants in gardens as a source of nectar. Familiar species like the small tortoiseshell, comma and peacock need to build up their reserves in readiness for hibernation, while the red admiral and painted lady are preparing to fly south to warmer climes. Without these flowers, many would not survive. If we could pick only five, we would opt for asters, phlox, sedum, Verbena bonariensis and Tithonia rotundifolia ‘T´Ç°ù³¦³ó’.

Gardens are vital for moths too and research has shown that a small suburban garden can support as many as 100 different species. Moths are an integral part of the food chain and a fall in their population could have a huge knock-on effect on birds and mammals. Night-scented plants are especially good for moths and our favourites include honeysuckle, evening primrose and sweet rocket.

(butterfly-conservation.org)

The apple juice Monty pressed was absolutely delicious and if you’re wondering what to do with your windfalls this year, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend having a go yourself. Our scratter and press cost £40 to hire for the day, but if you live near a community orchard, you might be able to borrow one for less than this. Alternatively, keep an eye out for apple pressing days in your area over the coming weeks.

(ptes.org)