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 – Sovereign Centre Eastbourne – Jun 2019Pink and very pale Geranium molle – Sovereign Centre Eastbourne – Jun 2019Common broomrape – Orobanche minor – Sovereign Centre Eastbourne – Jun 2019
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 – Sovereign area Eastbourne – Jun 2019Lucerne – Medicago sativa ssp sativa – Sovereign Park Eastbourne – Jun 2019Mouse ear hawkweed – Pilosella officinarum – Sovereign Park Eastbourne – Jun 2019Hop trefoil – Trifolium campestre – Sovereign Park Eastbourne – Jun 2019Wild area with gravel – Sovereign Park Eastbourne – Jun 2019Wild area with Vipers bugloss – Sovereign Park Eastbourne – Jun 2019Vipers bugloss – Echium vugare – Sovereign Park Eastbourne – Jun 2019Common poppy – Papaver rhoeas – Sovereign Park Eastbourne – Jun 2019
Growing on the beach on Sovereign seafront
Greek dock – Rumex cristatus – Eastbourne seafront near Sovereign Centre – Jun 2019Field madder – Sherardia arvensis – Eastbourne Sovereign – Jun 2019
Nature thriving at Sovereign Harbour
Sovereign Harbour is a large marina and housing complex with shops and restaurants.
Spotted spurge – Euphorbia maculata – Sovereign Harbour Eastbourne – alien – Jun 2019Vipers bugloss and Hoary mustard – Sovereign Harbour Eastbourne – Jun 2019Hoary mustard – Hirschfeldia incana – Sovereign Harbour Eastbourne – Jun 2019Self seeded lavender from a planted display nearby – Sovereign Harbour Eastbourne – Jun 2019Herb robert – Geranium robertianum maritime subspecies – Sovereign Harbour Eastbourne – Jun 2019Rose – Rosa rugosa – Sovereign Harbour Eastbourne – Jun 2019White clover – Trifolium repens – Eastbourne Sovereign Harbour – Jun 2019Weld – Reseda luteola – Eastbourne Sovereign Harbour – Jun 2019
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 Pacific Drive – Jun 2019Pale bee orchid community – Eastbourne Pacific Drive – Jun 2019Pale bee orchid – Ophrys apifera var flavescens – Eastbourne Pacific Drive – Jun 2019Slender thistle – Carduus tenuiflorus – Eastbourne Pacific Drive – Jun 2019
Plants growing on Sovereign Harbour beach
Eastbourne beach near Sovereign Harbour with Hoary mustard and Lucerne – Jun 2019
Everlasting pea – Lathyrus latifolius – Eastbourne Sovereign Harbour beach – Jun 2019Great mullein – Verbascum thapsus – Eastbourne Sovereign Harbour beach – Jun 2019Horned poppy – Glaucium flavium – Eastbourne Sovereign Harbour beach – Jun 2019Sovereign Harbour beach Eastbourne – Hoary mustard – Vipers bugloss – Jun 2019Kidney vetch – Anthyllis vulneraria – Eastbourne Sovereign Harbour beach – Jun 2019Rose campion – Lychnis coronaria – Eastbourne Sovereign Harbour beach – likely garden escape – Jun 2019Red valerian – Centranthus ruber – Eastbourne Sovereign Harbour beach – Jun 2019
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 – Jun 2019Vipers bugloss – Echium vulgare – Eastbourne – Jun 2019
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.
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