More chalk grassland indicator species

We returned to Gayles Farm the following week to survey another field or two. I should say that the survey methods and recording were all carefully adhered to, and were ably undertaken by Chris and Colin, I was just along to speed up the spotting!

The main photo above shows our beautiful location, with Bird’s-foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus in the foreground.

Growing at National Trust Gayles Farm

Gayles Farm sign National Trust Sussex Jul 2021

I cheekily zoomed in on the sign so you can see approximately where we were. We went rather nearer the sea than the “You are here” label but you get the idea! As you look at the map, Seaford is a bit further left and Eastbourne is just away to the right. You can see we were halfway along the Seven Sisters cliffs.

Gayles Farm sign detail National Trust Sussex Jul 2021

We found many flowers from the species list mentioned in Part 1. Photos marked with an L are plants that are on the list. We found many not shown, including Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus and the warm fragrance was fabulous underfoot.

Wild Basil flowers – Clinopodium vulgare

Wild Basil was new to me. L

Small scabious – Scabiosa columbaria

Sorry bad photo but there’s also a Bird’s foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus in there 🙂 LL

Round headed Rampion – Phyteuma orbiculare

Also known as Pride of Sussex, this one loves the chalk too, but wasn’t on the list.

Henbane – Hyoscyamus niger

Chris pointed out this plant which I had never seen before, growing in some disturbed ground by a farm gate. Henbane is a member of the poisonous Nightshade family so we kept our distance.

Henbane flowers Hyoscyamus niger Gayles Farm Sussex Jul 2021 — Henbane – *Hyoscyamus niger* – Gayles Farm Sussex – Jul 2021

Hedge bedstraw – Galium mollugo

Not to be confused with yellow Lady’s Bedstraw Galium verum, this one is not on the list.

Hedge bedstraw flowers Galium mollugo Gayles Farm Sussex Jul 2021 — Hedge bedstraw – *Galium mollugo* – Gayles Farm Sussex – Jul 2021

Dwarf thistle – Cirsium acaule

Listed as Stemless Thistle in the indicator species list. L

Clustered bellflower – Campanula glomerata

Often purple in colour as seen in Part 1, here is the white form.

Clustered bellflower white flowers Campanula glomerata in bud Gayles Farm Sussex Jul 2021 — Clustered bellflower white form – *Campanula glomerata* – Gayles Farm Sussex – Jul 2021

That was another beautiful sunny morning! I also spotted a similar range of flowers on an afternoon walk in Cradle Valley Seaford in July, where I had more time for photography, and also Seaford Head in August.

Chalk grassland survey Crowlink and Gayles Farm July Part 3