Coastal wildflowers already out

We took the campervan a few miles up the South Coast from Sussex coast towards Kent for a one night trip this spring. This is what happens when you share a house with adult children – you get kicked out from time to time! We were so lucky with the lovely sunny weather, although the evening wind was a bit fresh. As usual, we stayed in a Camping and Caravanning Club site – this one was near Pevensey.

Normans Bay beach

A lovely quiet spot where I enjoyed a paddle in the sunshine – you can see the beach in the main pic. 

Coastal species at Normans Bay

As to be expected by the seaside, all the coastal Latin comes out! I found Sea Kale Crambe maritima and Sea campion Silene maritima (also known as Silene uniflora).

There were also large mats of Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria near the top of the beach.

Visiting Dungeness

After overnighting near Pevensey, we drove a few miles East to Dungeness which is famous for its big empty landscapes and wild windswept expanses. It is Britain’s only desert. Luckily the weather was still sunny!

Seaside flowers

More Sea Kale!

Derek Jarman’s garden

We were keen to see this atmospheric spot. The house is iconic with its dark weatherboarding, yellow windows and handwritten script on the exterior wall.

The garden was semi-wild with controlled self-seeders such as Red Valerian Centranthus ruber, Californian Poppy Eschscholzia californica and yet more Sea Kale Crambe maritima distributed in a restrained manner amongst arranged pebbles and driftwood sculptures.

Dungeness is just down the road from Rye Harbour Nature Reserve in Sussex which is visited recently.

I enjoy visiting Kent, and am a regular visitor to the North Kent Coast.