Nature spotting and beginners botany on the South Coast of England
Walking and wild plants
Hi I’m Ruth and this is a pic of me on my local beach having a picnic a couple of years ago. I write about all things nature, be it my garden, wildflowers, floral crafts and just getting outside!
Spotting wildflowers is my main hobby, and go for a 35 minute walk a few times a week for exercise (see map below). Visiting the same spots regularly on my walks, I soon started to notice new flowers along the route (mostly in the pavement or on verges), and became interested in identifying as many as possible. I photograph them too, often using my smartphone, which really helps with ID when I get home.
I joined some societies which is a great way for anyone to start:
Sussex and Kent flora
I live in Seaford in sunny Sussex on the South Coast of England, between Eastbourne and Brighton, but my search for wildflowers often takes me to Kent, hence the tagline for this blog “Spotting flowers growing wild in the South East”. You’ll probably find the occasional entry from further afield too. Here is a link to a map showing my most commonly visited areas.
Calmness, nature and green spaces
The title Photographing Wildflowers really refers to the idea of taking time to stop and look around. I’m also interested in art, the countryside, food, gardening, and how to get more relaxation generally!
Dried flowers business
Workwise, I’m director of Daisy Gifts Ltd, an internet dried flower company which I started in 2002. It keeps me very busy, but I do like to try and get out and about as much as possible so it doesn’t take over my life!
My husband is called Mike (also a director), and we have two adult children.
Visit our dried flowers shop at daisyshop.co.uk and my dried flowers blog at driedflowercraft.co.uk. Writing about drying flowers from my garden and crafting with them is another favourite pastime!
Contact me about wildflowers
Contact me by commenting on any post, via my shop, or via the social media links shown right.
Hi Ruth – this is Kate – we were on the cliffs counting yesterday:) – I was Googling moon carrots and it brought me to you!
Lovely website
Hope to see you again sometime!
Kate
Hi Kate, Thanks very much 🙂 Hope your trip is going well! x
Hi Ruth I would like to walk with you between Telscoombe and Peacehaven, as I have a camera too. And there are some very rare species I think in the area of cliff edge which is fenced off to humans – but is being now taken over by wild garlic. I would like to gather evidence of the rarities there and perhaps the wild garlic may be removed. It may be its only hope thank you
Hi Heather, That’s a nice thought although I’m rather booked up currently! Do keep well away from the cliff edge – when we were monitoring Moon Carrot at Seaford Head we were told 10m (30 feet) was the nearest you should go as it can be unstable. I would recommend contacting Sussex Wildlife Trust about any possible rarities – if they can’t help, they’ll know who to contact. Best wishes, Ruth
Hi Ruth really enjoying your website & blog.
I’m planning on adding a website to my Facebook page Wildlife on the bay :https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093939331913
Notice you used WordPress : are you able to give any do’s & dont’s.
Hi Alec, Thanks for your comment, your Facebook looks good! Regarding WordPress, I’d just say start small and keep it manageable and build it up as you go. Best wishes, Ruth
Hi Ruth,
I found your website, which looks great, whilst trying to identify a little purple flower I saw at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. We’d never been before but really want to visit again now. I took an unhelpfully bad photo of the flower in question – it was in flower last week and there were patches of it in a few places, amongst the pebbles, like a purple carpet. The flowers were tiny and there was barely any height to the plants. Any idea what it is? I’ve always had an interest in wild flowers but struggle to remember their names!
Kind regards,
Corinne.
Hi Corinne, So sorry for the delay in replying! Do you think it might have been Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Glechoma hederacea? I’ve seen that in carpets at the seaside, including at Rye Harbour.
Best wishes, Ruth