THE economy received a welcome boost from higher consumer spending last month.

After the exertions of the last year I expect people are relieved to have a bit of warm weather in which to relax and make merry.

A climate appropriate for the party season has meant new summer clothes and more food and drink for us on average it seems, and it really is a great time of year to get out in the garden or countryside if we can.

A summer like this reminds how great and beautiful a place Britain is. My grandfather visited us here from Australia a few times when I was growing up, and being a farmer he always had an eye on the weather.

He marvelled with envy at our lush green English summers, so different from the parched brown landscape that accompanies the hot summer weather in much of Australia.

It is good for the soul to get out in nature, and commune with the bees and flowers. People were a bit rough on Prince Charles for admiring trees I think. Respect and appreciation for our environment is important, and is actually a deep part of our humanity and origins.

I was one of a number of Conservative MPs to write this week to our new Prime Minister to impress on her how important the environment is to us.

We asked that whatever the upcoming process around exiting the European Union, we should as a nation seek to uphold very high environmental standards and protections, and encourage others to do so.

I believe the change brings new opportunities now for us to steward our environment, encourage biodiversity, and tackle flooding and global warming. The smiles on our children’s faces as they roam outside this summer should inspire us.