LIKE most people, I always enjoy a beautiful summer's day, but the occasional blast from a passing storm is always spectacular too. Whether it is just because I'm out more, or there is a better contrast between conditions, the best storms always seem to occur in the summer.

The first sort of storm that comes to mind is the thunderstorm. Each has its own characteristics.

Some demonstrate beautiful and - at times - terrifying shows of lightning. I remember one storm which passed over my head whilst I was laying the now flattened hedge near the Kingsway on Burlish Top.

The first sign of it coming was a strange, deep purple light, followed by a flash that saw a beautifully intricate pattern of lightning spread out across the thundercloud, like the veins in the corner of an eye.

This was followed by a thick blast of lightning, which seemed to appear as a pillar of blue light between the earth and the cloud.

A second of these appeared 10 or so seconds later and so much closer. I felt as though I could smell the electric in the air.

This was enough for me and I turned and fled back to the van, jumping inside just ashailstones began to beat down.

You are meant to be safe from lightning strikes inside a vehicle, due to Faraday's Law, which states that the electrical charge will pass round the outside of the metal object. So with this information for comfort, I cowered in the vehicle until the storm had passed.

Another thunderstorm I remember from last year was noteworthy due to the intensity of the rain. I was on Hartlebury Common when the storm broke and was soaked in seconds.

As I made my way up the steep floodplain slopes on this reserve, I was suddenly faced by a mini mudslide. A thick, half-metre high, debris-filled mound of rainwater, sand and woodland detritus flowed towards me like a giant flatworm slithering its way menacingly across the ground.

On another occasion I was in Brinton Park in Kidderminster. The park was full of families having fun and playing in the paddling pool.

Suddenly, with no warning there was an enormous bang and people ducked or covered their heads. A terrible, eerie silence followed, then a feeling of relief spread across the park for a few seconds, just before raindrops the size of marbles caused people to start running for cover.

Occasionally, either accompanying a thunderstorm, or all by themselves we get mini tornadoes, which - while small and not so scary compared to American standards - are still spectacular to watch.

The one that brings the biggest smile to my face was down on Redstone Marsh in Stourport. I was leading a bug hunt for the Young Rangers when through the newly cut hay a column of swirling wind could be seen sweeping up the hay and spilling it out some 30 metres up.

The members of the Young Rangers club watched in awe as this phenomenon got closer and closer.

One girl realised it was heading straight for her so she ran, but not quickly enough and the mini tornado passed over her.

She was not lifted into the air, but her long hair was and when the twister had passed her by she was left standing in the field with her hair completely covered with hay like a badly constructed scarecrow.

It was not the desired look this teenage girl had in mind I'm sure!