New Year Plant Hunt 2026 - Uckfield North

 This is the third year in a row in which my BSBI New Year Plant Hunt number of species has been kept low (35 wild species in flower) by large amounts of rain reducing many of the plants I am hunting for to mush. This contrasts with some of the preceding years in which an unusually mild Autumn and early Winter has led to species counts in the 40s. The object of the hunt is to find how many wild plants are in flower in the days surrounding the new year.  

It was minus 6 overnight and freezing temperatures continued as I started my hunt just after 9 am. The first few plants that I found were covered in frost.

Pineapple Weed (Matricaria discoidea)

As I scoured the area around Tesco Express, I found myself envying Oscar who was curled up in the warmth of the shop.

Oscar in Tesco Express

On the way up to the town found the usual little weeds and then a summer flower - Hypochaeris radicata (Cat's-ear).

Cat's-ear (Hypochaeris radicata)

The walls around Holy Cross church yielded some finds such as Pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria judaica), which has tiny fuzzy little flowers.

Pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria judaica)

Trees were playing their part too. Near Bell Farm Road and on the Bellbrook Industrial Estate, Hazel (Corylus avellana) and Alder (Alnus glutinosa) catkins had lengthened and could be included in the count.

Alnus glutinosa (Hazel)

One of my favourite finds was a large patch of Sweet Violet (Viola odorata) with a scattering of flowers.

Viola odorata (Sweet Violet)

I worked my way through the Industrial Estate and then headed back through the town. I finished by checking out the Winter Heliotropes (Petasites fragrans) alongside Manor Park, not far from the Ringles Cross Pub.

Petasites fragrans (Winter Heliotrope)

By the time I finished, the sun had come out but it was cold enough to make me glad that I was heading home.

Nearly home.

At the time of writing:

• the Uckfield results are available from Uckfield North
• all results are available from NYPH Live Results

New Year Plant Hunt 2025 - Uckfield North

I introduced last year's account of the BSBI New Year Plant Hunt by saying "Recently the weather has been very wet, turning many little weedy plants that were hanging on from the summer to mush." It has been exactly the same this year and the results were quite similar - I got 35 species compared to 36 last year.

Sometimes the number of species found doesn't tell the whole story. For some species that I usually expect to find easily, I had to search really hard to find one or two blooms. For example: Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Ivy (Hedera helix) and Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum).

A battered Herb Bennet (Geum Urbanum)

My first find, on the public path just outside our hedge was a very miserable Herb Bennet (Geum Urbanum). Then the usual "weeds" - a lot of Daisies (Bellis perennis) and the odd Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) etc. A quick visit to the Winter Heliotropes (Petasites fragrans) near Ringles Cross showed that there were far fewer of the pink fluffy flowers than last year.

Yellow Corydalis (Corydalis lutea) at Holy Cross

I meandered through the town to the church and found a lovely group of Yellow Corydalis (Corydalis lutea) on the Holy Cross Church wall.

Holly (Ilex aquifolium)

The Holly (Ilex aquifolium) in Belmont road had a lovely scattering of dainty white flowers. The Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) was a little trickier - there were quite a few flowerheads with buds but the one open flower took a lot of finding.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) at the Fire Station

Another usually reliable New Year flower that was hard to find was Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). I found a rather scrappy specimen outside the fire station.

Gorse (Ulex europaeus) on Bellbrook Industrial Estate

The Bellbrook Industrial Estate gave me Gorse (Ulex europaeus) and some battered little weeds. 

White Melilot (Melitotus Albus)

Back in November, I found a White Melilot (Melitotus Albus) flowering in the Station car park. It seemed impossible to believe that it's delicate white pea flowers would still be blooming but they were.

White Deadnettle (Lamium album) at the Mill

On the other side of the road, I found some White Deadnettle (Lamium album) while a friendly German Shepherd investigated my bags.

The last Ivy (Hedera helix) flowers in town

Down to my last half-hour, I scurried home, conscious that I had not seen any Ivy (Hedera helix) flowers - there had been plenty of fruit on the plants round the town but not a single flower. I examined the Ivy at the top of the Dene, while discussing the plant hunt with a neighbour. I checked about three quarters of the heads when I found one that was still blooming. After this, I headed home for a much needed hot coffee.

At the time of writing:

• the Uckfield results are available from Uckfield
• all results are available from Results.

New Year Plant Hunt 2023 - Uckfield North

2022 weather was a real rollercoaster with a drought, then incessant rain and, just before Christmas, hard frosts and snow and the Met Office has concluded it was the hottest year on record. So when I did the 2023 BSBI New Year Plant hunt I expected to find very few species in flower compared to previous years. Sure enough, this year, I found 22 species in bloom, much fewer than the 36 to 46 I found in each of the previous 3 years. 

Number of species vs Year.

For most of the species that I did find, there were far fewer plants in flower - for example, I usually expect to see Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) in flower in several places during my hunt, whereas this time I found just one.

Daisy (Bellis perennis) - Manor Park

My first find was at the front of next door-but-one's garden - a Daisy (Bellis perennis) battered, but enough to get me going.

Ivy (Hedera helix) - Manor Park

As I made my way through the estate, I found a variety of little weeds in bloom as well as Ivy (Hedera helix). 

Winter Heliotrope (Petasites fragrans) - London Road

The Winter Heliotrope (Petasites fragrans) on London Road had obligingly come into bloom in time for the hunt.

Wendy Tagg with Yellow Corydalis (Corydalis lutea) - High Street

The old walls at the top of the town are usually quite productive. However there were no flowers on the usually reliable Trailing Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana) and there were just two little flowers on the Yellow Corydalis (Corydalis lutea).

Gorse (Ulex europaeus) - Bellbrook industrial estate

On the Bellbrook industrial estate the Gorse (Ulex europaeus) near the river Uck gave a nice splash of yellow.  

Alder (Alnus glutinosa) - Bellbrook industrial estate

Once again, I found red Alder (Alnus glutinosa) catkins lengthened and showing pollen. Trying to get a photo of them was a challenge as they danced in the breeze way above my head.

Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria Muralis) - Bellbrook industrial estate

There very few herbaceous plants in bloom but I found a Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus Repens) in the sheltered spot behind the Barny's Playbarn sign and an Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria Muralis) tucked behind a wall.

Hazel (Corylus avellana) dancing over the River Uck

I meandered down to the river, where it is bridged by the High Street and found fully lengthened catkins catching the sunlight over the river. 

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) - Southview Drive

After noting the Hazel (Corylus avellana), I headed home via Lime Tree Avenue, where I found some Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) with sorry-looking flowers. A quick inspection of the base of a South-facing wall in Southview drive yielded a Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and some Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).

Species found in bloom - wildflowers

Species found in Bloom - Naturalised

These are the garden plants that have 'jumped the garden fence'.

New Year Plant Hunt 2022 - Uckfield North

 Last year I started my post about the BSBI New Year Plant Hunt by saying "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 could have started this year's post with the same two sentences. However both Mum and I have had our vaccinations and boosters and we understand more about transmission so being amongst people outside is less worrying than a year ago. On the botanical side, I wondered what effect the relentless rain had had on the flowers I was hoping to find.

Winter Heliotrope, London Road side of Manor Park

I rushed to London Road (a bit South of the Ringles) to note the Winter Heliotrope (Petasites fragrans) that grows on the London Road side of Manor Park.  On the way, I saw many of the usual weeds such as Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), Daisy (Bellis perennis) etc. 

Pellitory-of-the-wall, corner of Regency Close

I headed directly down the High Street, recording species as I went. At the corner of Regency Close, I found Pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria judaica), a plant for which the word non-descript could have been invented.

Pellitory-of-the-wall closeup

I had to use a hand lens to reveal the tiny flowers. A quick nose round Holy Cross's churchyard gave me a Yellow Corydalis (Corydalis lutea).

Bush Vetch, Belmont Road

Belmont Road is a lovely old lane leading from the Church to the Oast House and allotments. It was a real pleasure to see the Bush Vetch (Vicia sepium) blooming for the third time since I started doing the New Year Plant Hunt in 2015.

Dandelion, Uckfield Fire Station

I checked the hedge round the allotments but, in spite of the Hawthorn having buds, there wasn't a single flower. However there was a cheeky Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) near the Fire Station. 

Lesser Celandine

As I headed along the path towards the Meads, I spotted a Lesser Celandine, my first since 2018. 

Hazel, star-shaped female flower top left, male catkins just lengthening

At first, I thought that the Hazel (Corylus avellana) in the strip between path and bypass was going to let me down but I went and had a closer look.  Just a few of the male catkins were lengthening and one tiny female flower enabled me to add Hazel to my list. The fact I was knee-deep in brambles peering into a bush also attracted some friendly curiosity. We chatted about which flowers I had found and shared a smile when a Robin decided to check us out.

Gorse, Bellbrook Business Park

They say "When gorse is out of bloom, kissing is out of season." and sure enough, I found Gorse (Ulex europaeus) blooming on Bellbrook Business Park. 

Annual Mercury, Bellbrook Business Park

Just round the corner, I found a number of Annual Mercury (Mercurialis annua) plants not far from when I found it in 2017.

Fools Parsley, Bellbrook Business Park,

A little further along, there were some Alder trees with lengthening, pollen-laden catkins. While I noted these down I noticed a miserable-looking plant at their feet. I couldn't make anything of it at the time and had to take a piece home for proper identification.  After much peering at books and keys, I ended up with Fools Parsley (Aethusa cynapium). Tim Rich of the Sussex Botanical Recording Society and Moira O'Donnell of the BSBI 2022 #NewYearPlantHunt team kindly confirmed this.  

At this point the clouds began to roll over and, conscious that my three hours was nearly up, I made for home and set about untangling my results.

2022 - 45 species of which 5 were naturalised garden plants that had 'jumped the fence'

2021 - 46 species of which 6 were naturalised 

2020 - 36 species of which 4 were naturalised

2019 - 45 species of which 4 were naturalised

2018 - 28 species of which 3 were naturalised

2017 - 23 species of which 2 were naturalised

2016 - 34 species of which 4 were naturalised

2015 - 21 species of which 2 were naturalised 

Species found in bloom - Wildflowers

Species found in bloom- naturalised

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