Flora of Eastbourne Sussex
This was a lovely day out in June led by expert Matthew Berry who identified many interesting species for us – I don’t take credit for any identifications on this page! Eastbourne is on the south coast of England in East Sussex.
Wildflowers near a roundabout
We met at the Sovereign Centre, a leisure centre on the outskirts of Eastbourne, which is near a roundabout well-known locally. It was surprising what interesting species we spotted so near to the pavement around this area. The first plant Matthew showed us was a Blue pimpernel, Lysimachia foemina, which I omitted to photograph – a good start!
![Dense flowered Fumitory Fumaria densiflora](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Dense-flowered-Fumitory-fumaria-densiflora-sovereign-centre-eastbourne-jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![pale Geranium molle](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/pink-and-white-geranium-molle-sovereign-centre-eastbourne-jun-2019-e1591804343136-1024x710.jpg)
![Common broomrape Orobanche minor](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/common-broom-rape-orobanche-minor-sovereign-center-jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
Towards Sovereign Park
We headed towards the wild areas of Sovereign Park, which are close to the beach and have broad sections of gravel.
![Bee orchid Ophrys apifera](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/bee-orchid-ophrys-apifera-eastbourne-jun-2019-768x1024.jpg)
![Lucerne Medicago sativa](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/lucerne-Medicago-sativa-eastbourne-jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![mouse ear hawkweed pilosella officinarum](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/mouse-ear-hawkweed-pilosella-officinarum-eastbourne-jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Hop trefoil Trifolium campestre](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Hop-trefoil-Trifolium-campestre-Eastbourne-Jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Sovereign Park Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/wild-area-sovereign-eastbourne-gravel-jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Vipers bugloss Sovereign Park Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/wild-area-sovereign-eastbourne-jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Vipers bugloss Echium vugare Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Vipers-bugloss-detail-Echium-vugare-Eastbourne-sovereign-Jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Common poppy Papaver rhoeas Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Common-poppy-Papaver-rhoes-Eastbourne-sovereign-Jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
Growing on the beach on Sovereign seafront
![Eastbourne seafront near Sovereign Centre](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Eastbourne-seafront-near-sovereign-centre-Jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Field madder Sherardia arvensis Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Field-madder-Sherardia-arvensis-Eastbourne-Sovereign-Jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
Nature thriving at Sovereign Harbour
Sovereign Harbour is a large marina and housing complex with shops and restaurants.
![Spotted spurge Euphorbia maculata Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Spotted-spurge-Euphorbia-maculata-Eastbourne-Sovereign-alien-Jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Vipers bugloss Hoary mustard](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Vipers-bugloss-hoary-mustard-Eastbourne-sovereign-Jun-2019-768x1024.jpg)
![Hoary mustard Hirschfeldia incana](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Hoary-mustard-Hirschfeldia-incana-Eastbourne-Sovereign-Jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Self seeded lavender Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Self-seeded-lavender-Eastbourne-Sovereign-Jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Herb robert Geranium robertianum maritime subspecies](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Herb-robert-Geranium-robertianum-Eastbourne-sovereign-Jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Rose Rosa rugosa eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Rose-Rosa-rugosa-Eastbourne-sovereign-Jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![White clover Trifolium repens Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/White-clover-Trifolium-repens-Eastbourne-sovereign-Jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Weld Reseda luteola Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Weld-Reseda-luteola-Eastbourne-sovereign-Jun-2019-768x1024.jpg)
Wildlife havens in Pacific Drive area
This is a built up area near the harbour and the sea with some vacant plots that had become wildlife havens.
![Pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Pyramidal-orchid-Anacamptis-pyramidalis-Eastbourne-sovereign-Jun-2019-768x1024.jpg)
![Pale bee orchid community Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Pale-bee-orchid-community-Eastbourne-sovereign-Jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Pale bee orchid Ophrys apifera var flavescens](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Bee-orchid-ophrys-apifera-var-flavescens-Eastbourne-Sovereign-Jun-2019-768x1024.jpg)
![Slender thistle Carduus tenuiflorus Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Slender-thistle-Carduus-tenuiflorus-Eastbourne-sovereign-Jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
Plants growing on Sovereign Harbour beach
![Eastbourne beach near Sovereign harbour](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Eastbourne-beach-near-Sovereign-harbour-Jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Everlasting pea Lathyrus latifolius Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Everlasting-pea-Lathyrus-latifolius-Eastbourne-sovereign-harbour-beach-jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Great mullein Verbascum thapsus Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Great-mullein-Verbascum-thapsus-Eastbourne-sovereign-harbour-beach-jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Horned poppy Glaucium flavium Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Horned-poppy-Gluacium-flavium-Eastbourne-sovereign-harbour-beach-Jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Sovereign Harbour beach Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Sovereign-harbour-beach-hoary-mustard-vipers-bugloss-Jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Kidney-vetch-Anthyllis-vulneraria-Eastbourne-sovereign-harbour-beach-jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Rose campion Lychnis coronaria Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Rose-campion-Lychnis-coronaria-Eastbourne-sovereign-harbour-beach-jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Red valerian Centranthus ruber Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Red-valerian-Centranthus-ruber-Eastbourne-sovereign-Jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
Beach plants towards Eastbourne town
I said goodbye to the group and headed back towards the town centre and bus home, but the seaside communities of flora were still impressive surprisingly close to town.
![Eastbourne seafront near net huts](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Eastbourne-seafront-near-net-huts-jun-2019-1024x768.jpg)
![Vipers bugloss Echium vulgare Eastbourne](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/vipers-bugloss-echium-vulgare-eastbourne-jun2019-1024x768.jpg)
I should mention that Matthew identified many interesting species not mentioned here. This is because I particularly enjoy photographing wildflowers and was only carrying my smartphone, so I recorded the most easily photogenic species. For a more detailed report, written by Matthew, see the Wildflower Society magazine Winter 2020 edition.
Find out more about the Wildflower society
Read more about identifying: Clover | Geraniums | Kidney vetch | Lathyrus and Orchids.
We used to have a flat on the front in Prince William Parade and this show is one of our walks – wonderful reminder of happy times!
Hi Andrew, Thanks for commenting! You were lucky to have all those flowers on your doorstep. Best wishes, Ruth