Short hike up a hill with flowers and views
After lock-down was relaxed a little we took the kids for a short hike up the chalky Downs behind Alfriston in Sussex. In case you wonder how we managed to persuade a twenty year old and an eighteen year old to get exercise – we lured them out with the promise of doughnuts at the top of the hill.
It was a blustery day and a little overcast.
View from the top with millefleur foreground
![cowslip south downs alfriston may 2020](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/cowslip-south-downs-alfriston-may-2020-1024x768.jpg)
You can see from the pic above that on a completely clear day the view can be fab! In the foreground you can see Cowslip – Primula veris, Speedwell – Veronica, Plantain and Buttercup (although I didn’t stop to check the species).
It was a great days for birds too. The skylarks gave a continuous display in sound and vision the whole time we were there, and we saw a pair of birds of prey circling over a nearby valley.
Flower meadows
We passed flower meadows with Red Clover, Buttercups and Speedwell. My family was on a mission, so there wasn’t much chance of pausing for photography, but I did catch this snap of a Butttercup field.
![buttercup field alfriston may 2020](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/buttercup-field-alfriston-may-2020-1024x768.jpg)
Sainfoin at Long Burgh Barrow
Near the neolithic barrow I spotted Sainfoin flowers, Onobrychis viciifolia, which were gorgeous. Apparently they’re not all that common these days, but do get distributed in wildflower mixes – maybe it escaped from one of those! I thought it was surprisingly bold and noticeable with red striped petals. Unsurprisingly it turns out to like chalk and was historically grown for animal fodder.
![sainfoin onobrychis viciifolia alfriston may 2020](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/sainfoin-alfriston-may-2020-768x1024.jpg)
Its the season for Speedwell and Cowslips – I also spotted them recently on my hike over Seaford Head
Hi there,
This looks beautiful, Where did you walk from / to
Hi Shane,
We parked in Kings Ride which is a residential road that joins up with the South Downs Way – just follow the signs up a steep hill then keep going until you get a good view. We came back down the same way and the barrow is nearby. I think we were only walking for a couple of hours altogether, if that. Best, Ruth