Viola riviniana around Sussex in early April

In the first five days of April I have spotted Common dog violet, Viola riviniana, in three places in Sussex. This might indicate the relaxing of lockdown as much as anything else! This violet is more delicate looking than the often earlier Sweet violet. It is usually found in short grass. Sweet violet, Viola odorata had pretty much finished flowering here by April this year.

Common dog violet in Seaford

I visited the Last Meadow on 3rd April and found a nice little community of violets only about 20m from the road. Later in the week I also found some growing nearby on the verge of the Alfriston Rd.

Viola riviniana near Battle

Ashburnham is a small village near Battle in East Sussex and there are some lovely country lanes. We visited there on the 4th April.

Common dog-violet on Ashdown Forest

Ashdown Forest is actually an ancient area of open heathland in Sussex in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It was used for hunting shortly after the Norman conquest. We went for a walk in some icy weather on 5th April – there were even a few flakes of snow!

For more about identifying violas, please see my viola and violets page.

I spotted some Sweet violets in March this year.

I found some Common dog violet in May on Seaford Head last year.