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.
![common dog violet viola riviniana seaford last meadow apr 2021common dog violet viola riviniana seaford last meadow apr 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/common-dog-violet-viola-riviniana-seaford-last-meadow-apr-2021-scaled-e1617648873471.jpg)
![Common dog violet viola riviniana leaves seaford last meadow apr 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Common-dog-violet-viola-riviniana-leaves-seaford-last-meadow-apr-2021-scaled-e1617648795450.jpg)
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 viola riviniana battle apr 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/common-dog-violet-viola-riviniana-battle-apr-2021-scaled-e1618064281116.jpg)
![common dog violet reverse viola riviniana battle apr 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/common-dog-violet-reverse-viola-riviniana-battle-apr-2021-scaled-e1618064355339.jpg)
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!
![common dog violet viola riviniana ashdown forest apr 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/common-dog-violet-viola-riviniana-ashdown-forest-apr-2021-scaled-e1618064678401.jpg)
![common dog violet reverse viola riviniana ashdown forest apr 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/common-dog-violet-reverse-viola-riviniana-ashdown-forest-apr-2021-scaled-e1618064786953.jpg)
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.