Wildflowers of Short Cliff and inland
Short Cliff is the next cliff along from Hope Gap travelling East. If you head inland towards South Hill Barn you cross a large area of short grass which is managed by Sussex Wildlife trust using grazing. This area is bounded to the West by an area of scrub which separates it from Hope Bottom. You can see this explained in the SWT nature reserve map linked to in the previous post.
Flowers in short grass
Chalk grassland is a habitat which developed over millennia through grazing. The area inland from Short Cliff is exposed with shallow soil. I had my eye open for chalk grassland indicator species from the National Trust list which are labelled L as usual. But do please remember that this blog post is not a survey and there were more species present than photographed. Also the list itself is not comprehensive.
Eyebright – Euphrasia
These little Eyebrights love short grass and are also seen in the main image above, where the Seven Sisters cliffs can be seen behind. L
![Eyebright Euphrasia Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Eyebright-Euphrasia-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-600x450.jpg)
Perforate St Johns Wort – Hypericum perforatum
St Johns Wort with visible black dots on the petal edges.
![Perforate St Johns Wort flowers Hypericum perforatum Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Perforate-St-Johns-Wort-flowers-Hypericum-perforatum-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-600x450.jpg)
Common Centaury – Centaurium erythraea
![Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Common-Centaury-Centaurium-erythraea-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-450x600.jpg)
Selfheal – Prunella vulgaris
![Selfheal Prunella vulgaris Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Selfheal-Prunella-vulgaris-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-600x450.jpg)
Carline Thistle – Carlina vulgaris
Alongside the Carline Thistle L in the image below showing the short grass can be just seen: Eyebrights, Bird’s Foot Trefoil L, Lesser Knapweed, Hawkbits, Ragwort and Selfheal.
![Carline Thistle short grass Carlina vulgaris Seaford Head Seven Sisters Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Carline-Thistle-short-grass-Carlina-vulgaris-Seaford-Head-Seven-Sisters-Aug-2021-600x450.jpg)
Clustered Bellflower – Campanula glomerata
![Clustered Bellflower patch Campanula glomerata Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Clustered-Bellflower-patch-Campanula-glomerata-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-600x450.jpg)
Longer grass
As you head away from the sea in the same field, the grass becomes longer.
Tufted Vetch – Vicia cracca
The Tufted Vetch added a eyecatching hint of blue to the tapestry.
![Tufted Vetch Lesser Knapweed Ragwort seven sisters Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Tufted-Vetch-Lesser-Knapweed-Ragwort-seven-sisters-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-600x450.jpg)
![Tufted Vetch plants Vicia cracca Seaford Head Aug 2021Tufted Vetch plants Vicia cracca Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Tufted-Vetch-plants-Vicia-cracca-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-600x450.jpg)
Greater Knapweed – Centaurea scabiosa
L
![Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Greater-Knapweed-Centaurea-scabiosa-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-600x600.jpg)
Field Scabious – Knautia arvensis
L
![Field Scabious Knautia arvensis Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Field-Scabious-Knautia-arvensis-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-600x450.jpg)
Common Knapweed – Centaurea nigra
I also sometimes call it Lesser Knapweed.
![Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Common-Knapweed-Centaurea-nigra-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-600x450.jpg)
Red clover – Trifolium pratense
I think that Red Clover is prettier the closer you look.
![Red clover Trifolium pratense Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Red-clover-Trifolium-pratense-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-scaled-e1644758898188-600x450.jpg)
Germander Speedwell – Veronica chamaedrys
This Speedwell was not in flower but was suffering with gall caused by a midge infestation. It was in the shelter of the scrub hedge along the West perimeter of the field.
![Germander Speedwell gall hairs Veronica chamaedrys Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Germander-Speedwell-gall-hairs-Veronica-chamaedrys-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-600x450.jpg)
Vipers Bugloss – Echium vulgare
I spotted the white form of Vipers Bugloss by the side of the path heading back towards the barn.
![White Vipers Bugloss Echium vulgare Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/White-Vipers-Bugloss-Echium-vulgare-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-600x450.jpg)
Flowers West of the Barn
As you head West of South Hill Barn there is a patchwork of open spaces and scrub which borders the golf course.
Travellers Joy – Clematis vitalba
I have always called this Clematis Old Mans Beard after its fluffy seed heads.
![Travellers Joy detail Clematis vitalba Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Travellers-Joy-detail-Clematis-vitalba-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-600x450.jpg)
Greater Stitchwort – Stellaria holostea
![Greater Stitchwort flower Stellaria holostea Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Greater-Stitchwort-flower-Stellaria-holostea-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-600x450.jpg)
Wild Marjoram – Origanum vulgare
This Marjoram L was growing in a more open spot, near where I was counting Common Spotted Orchid and Twayblades earlier in the year.
![Wild Marjoram flowers Origanum vulgare Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Wild-Marjoram-flowers-Origanum-vulgare-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-600x450.jpg)
Snowberry – Symphoricarpos albus
Heading back down past the golf course towards town I was back in amongst shrubbery again. These pink flowers and berries were on the same bush at the same time.
![Snowberry blossom Symphoricarpos albus Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Snowberry-blossom-Symphoricarpos-albus-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-600x450.jpg)
![Snowberry berries Symphoricarpos albus Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Snowberry-berries-Symphoricarpos-albus-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-600x450.jpg)
Black Horehound – Ballota nigra
I tend to find that Black Horehound is often scruffy looking and this one was no exception.
![Black Horehound Ballota nigra Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Black-Horehound-Ballota-nigra-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-450x600.jpg)
As my last plant was something of an anticlimax, here is a pretty blue butterfly to round off this post 🙂
![Butterfly Seaford Head Aug 2021](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Butterfly-Seaford-Head-Aug-2021-600x450.jpg)
I was back on Seaford Head a week later on a guided walk and found some more plants of interest.
Other places where I have seen many chalk indicator species recently include Grin Low SSSI in Derbyshire and Cradle Valley in Seaford.