New Year Plant Hunt 2021 - Uckfield North

 I was in two minds about doing the BSBI's New Year Plant Hunt this year. Covid-19 levels are running high and there is a new, more infectious strain around. I wondered if I could do the hunt without taking unnecessary risks, or even if it was allowed by the Tier 4 rules. In the end, I did it as early as possible on New Year's Day and ran round much of my route so it definitely countered as exercise as well as getting me home before numbers of people started getting out and about.  

I did this year's New Year Plant Hunt at a trot!

The numbers of wild and naturalised flowers that I have found over the last few years are:

2015 - 21 species of which 2 were naturalised garden plants that had 'jumped the fence'

2016 - 34 species of which 4 were naturalised

2017 - 23 species of which 2 were naturalised

2018 - 28 species of which 3 were naturalised

2019 - 45 species of which 4 were naturalised

2020 - 36 species of which 4 were naturalised

2021 - 46 species of which 6 were naturalised - this hunt got a mention in the BSBI Summary of Day 1.

The first plant I encountered was Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) as I ran along Browns Lane. Pausing to post some letters, I saw some Red Dead Nettle (Lamium purpureum) near the bottom of the post box. As I trotted though the Manor Park twittens, I saw all the usual weeds including Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), Bristly Ox-Tongue (Picris echioides) etc. Then through Lime Tree Avenue, where I found some Cow Parsley (Cow Parsley) in bloom.

Tall Ramping Fumitory (Tall Ramping Fumitory)

I visited the grassy bank at the top of the town and found the Tall Ramping Fumitory (Fumaria bastardii) that was there last year. 

Yellow Corydalis at the top of the town (Corydalis lutea)

As usual, the lovely old walls at the top of the town are studded with the gold flowers of Yellow Corydalis (Corydalis lutea). 

Smooth Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus)

I slowed down to go through the grounds of Holy Cross and found a patch, sheltered by one of the Yew Trees, that was still full of Cat's-Ear (Hypochaeris radicata), which in my mind is a real summer flower. There was also Smooth Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) and Annual Meadow Grass (Annual Meadow Grass). 

Bush Vetch (Bush Vetch) in Belmont Lane

One of my favourite finds was the Bush Vetch (Bush Vetch)  in Belmont Lane. This partly sunken lane, with hedges each side and an Oast House at the end seems like a remnant of old Sussex tucked behind our usually bustling high street. 

Ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) on the bypass

Beyond the Oast House the illusion is swiftly shattered by the presence of the modern bypass with a petrol station and industrial estate on the other side. However year-after-year the patch near the fire station is the gift that keeps on giving. 2021 was no exception with Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) in blossom in the allotment hedge, an optimistic Ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) at the curb and lengthening Hazel (Corylus avellana) catkins nearby.  There were even some battered Bramble (Rubus fruticosus) blossoms.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) near Greens DIY.

After some worrying Government announcements about the second Covid vaccination, I looked at the Meads Medical Centre to see if there were any notices. There weren't, so I crossed the road to the Bellbrook Business Park where I found a number of Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) near Greens DIY.

White Ramping Fumitory

I looked over a low wall and found another fumitory. At first, I thought it was the same species that I found at the top of the town but something about the flowers made me take another look. An indignant wren shot out. The fumitory flowers were subtly different to the one at the top of the town. They were more densely packed and were a clear white and crimson rather than washed out pinks. I took a sample for closer inspection when I got home.  It turned out to be White Ramping Fumitory (Fumaria capreolata). 

Canadian Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis)

Across the road there was Canadian Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis), its tiny - usually nondescript - flowers glowing in the low, slanting sun.

A cheeky Common Chickweed (Stellaria media) in artificial turf.

Running through the industrial estate, I was amused to see a cheeky Common Chickweed (Stellaria media) growing in artificial turf. Nature always finds a way.

Hawkweed (Hieracium agg)

Going past the Uckfield Motor Services, I noticed flowers like little suns peeping over the wall. It was obviously a member of the dandelion family but the spear-shaped leaves running up the stems had me foxed.  My books tell me it is a Hawkweed (Hieracium agg).

Winter Heliotrope (Petasites fragrans), South of the Ringles.

There were more people moving around and I was beginning to get uneasy so I trotted up the High Street as fast as my little legs would carry me, pausing only to note a Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare) near the cinema. I also found a stray Fennel near the top of Browns Lane. I went as far as the Winter Heliotrope (Petasites fragrans) just South of the Ringles Cross pub.

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)

After running and botanising for about 2 hours, I looked round the garden at home and was rewarded with the sight of the most miserable Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) that I have ever seen. However it still had one tiny flower open, so I added it to my list.

Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria Muralis).

 My last find was the Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria Muralis) scrambling round the feed of our shed.

The science bit

Location: Uckfield (North), East Sussex.  Start point: TQ478219

Total number of wild and naturalised plants in flower = 46

My records are at : https://nyph.bsbi.org/app2021/#records

40 Wild Plants flowering on 1 January 2021

6 Naturalised Plants flowering on 1 January 2021

BSBI Garden Wildflower Hunt - 2nd Survey

It's two weeks since I did the first BSBI Garden Wildflower Hunt. Then I found 48 wild flowers (including trees, grasses and ferns).  Since then, the weather has been fine and dry, causing the Spring to race forward.

English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)

In my first survey, the Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) were just beginning to come out. Now they are fully out and some are beginning to fade before we have even reached May.

Bugle (Ajuga repans) and Thyme leaved speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia)

I haven't been mowing the grass on the slope so the previously inconspicuous wisps of Thyme leaved speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia) have filled the grass with tiny white flowers.

Hairy-footed flower bee on Bugle (Ajuga repans) 

After some indecision, I decided that our Bugle (Ajuga repans) was a wild plant rather than the darker-leaved garden variety that we introduced. As you can see from the photo is popular with bees.

Cuckoo flowers (Cardamine pratensis)

A number of spring flowers such as Cuckoo flowers (Cardamine pratensis) and Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) had gone from tight buds to full flower.

Field Forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis)

The Field Forget-me-nots (Myosotis arvensis) had progressed even faster, going from insignificant bunches of leaves to full flower in just a fortnight.

Welsh Poppy (Meconopsis cambrica)

Other plants that had made dramatic progress in the two weeks included Welsh Poppies (Meconopsis cambrica), whose ancestors came from seeds given to us by a neighbour.

Grasses and Sedges

I also found a number of grasses including Sweet Vernal Grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum) and Meadow Foxtail (Meadow foxtail).

Combining my two counts, I found 65 wildflowers of which:

• 50 probably occurred naturally in our garden
• 15 were sown or planted.

BSBI Garden Wildflower Hunt

It is just a few short weeks since my last post. When we were trimming the old trees in Lime Tree Avenue, the COVID19 crisis was casting shadows across the spring. Over the last few weeks, the situation escalated. I'm very lucky that I can work at home. Even so, I am very scared of bringing the virus home with the shopping and worn out with juggling work, learning how to be effective as part of a scattered team and getting the essentials into the house. On the other hand, I have been heartened by the community response and that of our incredible "key workers" from too many roles to mention.

Setting up for the hunt

The Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland has responded to the situation by launching the #GardenWildFlowerHunt - so on Good Friday, I searched our garden for both the classic spring wild flowers and the weeds that I keep meaning to pull up. It was lovely to switch off the anxiety and focus on finding and identifying wildflowers.

Good Friday Grass (Luzula campestris)

I started by looking at the rather mossy patch of grass at the front of the house.  I found Dandelions and Catsear, as well as Field Wood Rush (Luzula campestris), otherwise known as Good Friday Grass.

Silver Birch ((Betula pendula)

I suffer from hayfever and so can't help noticing that the Silver Birch trees (Betula pendula) are flowering and shedding golden pollen.

Wood Anemones (Anemone nemorosa)

At the Birch's feet, there are lovely dainty Wood Anemones (Anemone nemorosa). Most of them are pure white but there was just one plant with pink backs to its petals and a very delicate pink flush on its face.

Primroses (Primula vulgaris) and Dog Violets (Viola riviniana)

Primroses (Primula vulgaris) occur naturally in our garden but I have added to them to get a decent "ribbon" flowing down the slope. The photo shows them mixed up with naturally occurring Dog Violets (Viola riviniana).

Cowslips (Primula veris)

Over the years, we have introduced some of the showier wild flowers. Mum scattered cowslip (Primula veris) seeds about 30 years ago and they have been romping round the garden ever since. The BSBI form allows introduced wildflowers to be marked as such.

Honesty (Lunaria annua)

Last year I made a contribution of my own by scattering Honesty (Lunaria annua) near Dad's old leaf bin.

Thyme-leaved Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia)

I found various "weeds" too such as the Thyme-leaved Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia) pictured, dandelions and many more.

English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)

Even though we are less than two weeks into April, the Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) are already beginning to flower.  I have to check carefully for hybrids with the Spanish bluebell but I think that I have eliminated the few interlopers.

In total, I found 48 species of wildflower of which:

• 38 almost certainly got to our garden under their own steam
• 10 were sown or planted.