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.
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.
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.
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.
Its the season for Speedwell and Cowslips – I also spotted them recently on my hike over Seaford HeadAMP
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