In May when I visited Seaford Head, a Sussex Wildlife Trust ranger advised that I come back in a few weeks to see the difference, so I took her at her word.
You could probably tell from my May post that there is a range of different habitats in this area.
I tend to walk up the hill from Chyngton Rd along the eastern edge of Seaford Head golf course which follows the backs of some houses. This is a sheltered area with trees and bushes and footpaths through the long grass. Then from the golf course along a concrete track to South Barn and through exposed greensward kept short by seasonal grazing livestock and rabbits. The field has fantastic views of the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs and I walk almost as far as Cuckmere Haven. I then turn west along the cliff path back to Seaford, passing Hope Gap on the way.
Flowers near the golf course
It was a windy day so sometimes I had to hold the flowers to get a pic!
White campion – Silene latifolia – Seaford Head – Jun 2020Wild field rose – Rosa arvensis – Seaford Head – Jun 2020Stinking iris – Iris foetidissima – Seaford Head – Jun 2020
There is a bench I like to sit on to get my breath back after walking up the hill – last time I photographed cowslips there. This time it was bladder campion.
Bladder campion – Silene vulgaris – Jun 2020Rosebay willowherb – Chamerion angustifolium – Seaford Head – Jun 2020Honeysuckle – Lonicera periclymenum – Seaford Head – Jun 2020Common mallow – Malva sylvestris – Seaford Head – Jun 2020
Exposed greensward
This was the area I met the ranger last time, and the cattle had now moved on, leaving nothing but the occasional cowpat behind them. The field is protected to the west by shrubs such as pale pink dog roses. There is thin soil on chalk.
Dog rose – Rosa canina – Seaford Head – Jun 2020
A few metres away from this natural rose hedge in the short grass were some dog rose suckers bearing rose gall.
Rose burr on Rosa canina -Seaford Head – Jun 2020
There were all sorts of interesting wildflowers in the short grass, and lovely views out to sea.
Vipers bugloss – Echium vulgare – Seaford Head with views of the Seven Sisters behind – Jun 2020Sheeps sorrel – Rumex acetosella with birds foot trefoil – Seaford Head – Jun 2020Common birds foot trefoil – Lotus corniculatus – Seaford Head – Jun 2020Wild thyme – Thymus polytrichus – Seaford Head Sussex – Jun 2020Thyme gall – Seaford Head Sussex – June 2020Unidentified wildflower – I couldn’t ID this plant so photographed it to look up at home but the pics didn’t come out very well and I can’t even guess a Genus! Seaford Head Sussex – June 2020Field bindweed – Convolvulus arvensis – Seaford Head – Jun 2020Creeping cinquefoil – Potentilla reptans – Seaford Head – Jun 2020Common eyebright – Euphrasia nemorosa – Seaford Head – Jun 2020Bulbous buttercup (reflexed sepals visible) – Ranunculus bulbosus with salad burnet and thyme – Seaford Head – Jun 2020
Along the chalk cliffs
Seven Sisters cliffs in Sussex – June 2020
There is longer grass here along this path where the moon carrot and thistles flower. Moon carrot is nationally rare, but common in Seaford.
Moon carrot flower – Seseli libanotis – Seaford Head – Jun 2020Moon carrot habitat – Seseli libanotis – Seaford Head cliff – Jun 2020Slender thistle – Carduus tenuiflorus – Seaford Head – June 2020Scarlet pimpernel flourishing in a sheltered rabbit scrape – Anagallis arvensis (showing square stem) – Hope Gap Seaford – Jun 2020Goats beard – Tragopogon pratensis – Seaford Head – Jun 2020Seaford Head Sussex looking towards Seaford town – June 2020
If you can help me with my unidentified flower, do get in touch!
