New Year Plant Hunt - Uckfield North

Recently the weather has been very wet, turning many little weedy plants that were hanging on from the summer to mush. So when I did the 2024 BSBI New Year Plant Hunt, I was expecting another low result, much the same as last year. For my Uckfield (Sussex) hunt, I got an unexpectedly high result - 36 species - comparable to the few years prior to 2023. I think the difference was that we didn't get the hard frost and snow that we experienced last year.

Number of species vs year

Before I even got off Manor Park housing estate, I found nine species - the sort of unregarded weeds like Daisies, Dandelions etc. The flowers looked pretty miserable after all the rain but these adaptable little plants had battled through to count day.

Winter Heliotrope (Petasites fragrans) - London Road

One of my favourites is the patch of Winter Heliotrope (Petasites fragrans) just south of Ringles Cross. These flowers are both reliable and give a cheerful touch of pink on a dull day. As I worked my way down the London Road to the town, there were more battered little weeds.

Water Bent (Polypogon viridis) in the High Street

One plant that is thriving after all the wet weather is an alien grass - and the clue as to why is in the name - Water Bent (Polypogon viridis). 

Gorse (Ulex europaeus) in Church Street.

As I made my way along the High Street and into Church Street I found more plants in bloom including a Gorse (Ulex europaeus) opposite Holy Cross Church. In a nearby flower bed, I found the glamorous purple of Sweet Violet (Viola odorata) flowers.  I was particularly pleased because it has been lost from a couple of nearby sites due to a clean up in one case and invasive Three Cornered Leek (Allium triquetrum) in another.

Yellow Corydalis (Corydalis lutea) at Holy Cross Church

Sheltered nooks around Holy Cross Church have enabled plants such as Yellow Corydalis (Corydalis lutea) and Mexican Fleabane (Mexican Fleabane) to keep flowering.

Ivy (Hedera helix) at Holy Cross Church

A flowering Ivy (Hedera helix) is just one of the plants in the hedge at Holy Cross that will be keeping Bees, Hoverflies and even butterflies going through the winter.

Holly (Ilex aquifolium) in Bellmont Road

I spent some time examining a Holly (Ilex aquifolium) in Bellmont Road and was delighted to find some tiny flowers so I could include it in my count.

Hazel (Corylus avellana) catkins.

One of the Hazels (Corylus avellana) near the bypass always seems to be flowering at this time of year even when those by the river bridge have let me down. By the time I had got to it, the wind was whipping the catkins around like lambs tails.

Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna)

Before the hunt started a member of the Sussex Botanical Recording Society had asked for advice about where to look for wild plants in flower. The group provided suggestions like "urban", "building sites" and, in my case, "industrial estates". At Bellbrooke, I was able to add another handful to my score including the tiny Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna) shown. You will have to forgive the quality of the photo - I had to hold my phone against the bottom of a fence to get it and couldn't really see what I was doing.  After this, I headed home, pausing to note a couple more species from the front of the fire station.

Species in Bloom - wild flowers

Wild plants in bloom - 2024 hunt

Species found in bloom - naturalised

These are species that have "jumped the garden fence".

Naturalised plants in bloom - 2024 hunt

Big Garden Birdwatch 2023

I did this year's Big Garden Birdwatch from 8:20 to 9:20 am. The weather was cold (about 1-2 C) and dull.  The big difference this year is that I've been using feeders much more.  Previously we had one feeder for fatballs, a bird table and scattered some food on the paving or grass.  However due to increasing numbers of Pigeons monopolizing the supplies, I've more-or-less stopped using the bird table and ground and now have a total of four feeders:

• The original, with fat balls, in the Magnolia
• Mealworms in the Lilac at the front
• Sunflower hearts in the Crab Apple at the back
• Suet pellets in the Cornus Mass.

I imagined that this would encourage more birds into the garden and make them easier to spot.  However, during the count, I observed that most species come and go to the feeders quite quickly whereas before they would spend more time looking for morsels in our unruly garden.  

During the count, I recorded a total of 31 individuals from 11 species.

My Big Garden Bird Count scores.

Some results stood out. For example, the were two Goldfinches and one Coal tit.  Although these species have occasionally graced my count, their visits have be very irregular and fleeting, with the Goldfinches usually flying high above the garden and not landing (which means I can't include them in the count). Over the last few weeks these have become reliable visitors, coming to our feeders every day. 

Big Garden Bird Watch - How counts have changed since 2011

I did get more individuals than the last couple of years. It doesn't necessarily mean much because numbers have gone up and down so much over since I started doing the count.  However, the main boost was a group 12 of House Sparrows that spent a little time squabbling over the sunflower hearts and suet. 

Hopefully as we enter the hungry period when the birds have eaten most of the naturally occurring berries and seeds, the feeders will help keep our feathered friends going until Spring. 

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'.

2022 - Adding New Species to my List

As it is the last day of 2022, I'm looking over my wildlife observations fot the yearand seeing what is new.  Most of my sightings were within walking or running distance of my home - i.e. in and around Uckfield.  Numbers of new species were significantly up from last year.  I think this has been driven by some serious plant hunting in Hempstead Lane, which turned out to be very species rich. Some of my new species are described in my previous post, Botanical Survey - Hempstead Lane. 

At the end of the year the number of new species found were:

• 60 Species new to my records
• of which, 30 were new to me.

Here is a selection of species that are new to me or my records.

Fools Parsley, New Year Plant Hunt

Once again, my recording year started with the BSBI New Year Plant hunt.  There was just one new species for my lists - Fools Parsley (Aethusa cynapium) found on Bellbrook Industrial Estate. Probably the most miserable-looking specimen that I have ever tried to photograph.

Goat's Rue, 26 June, Bellbrook Industrial Estate

The industrial estate also yielded one of my showiest new plants - Goat's Rue (Galega officinalis). The officinalis part of the scientific name suggests that it had medicinal uses and indeed, the RHS Encyclopaedia of herbs says that it was used in the treatment of fevers and to help milk production.  

Slender St. John's Wort, 18 June

One of the big changes in recording this year is that the Sussex Botanical Recording Society have asked us to submit records using iRecord. This makes it much easier to add casual records while I am out and about. While I was running along Etchingwood Lane, I noticed a St. John's Wort that looked a bit "off". On closer inspection and much looking up in books, it turned out to be a Slender St. John's Wort (Hypericum pulchrum), which is one that I have not encountered before. The downside  of being able to record on-the-fly is that my running times are even worse than they used to be!

Snowy Inkcap, 3 Sept, near Gatehouse Green Farm

While I was running through a field  - carefully to avoid stepping in cow poo - I found a gleaming white Snowy Inkcap (Coprinopsis nivea) growing out a pile of the mucky stuff.  Looking at the scientific name, Copros is latin for dung and Niveus means snow-white.

Fig Gall on Elm Leaf, 8 May, Hempstead Lane

One of the weirdest things that I found this year was a Fig Gall (Tetraneura ulmi).  This little black sac contains the offspring of a type of aphid. 

Early Thorn, 19 March, Uckfield garden

This Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) took me by surprise when I was cutting back the old Epimedium leaves. Its wings still floppy so it must have just emerged.

Small Phoenix, 14 May, Uckfield garden

Another garden find was this striking little Small Phoenix, which likes woodland habitats and whose foodplants include Willowherbs. Its presence may owe something to my failure to keep up with the weeding!

Small Blood-vein, 27 Aug, in the house

During the heatwave, we got a lot of moths inside the house including this Small Blood-vein (Scopula imitaria).

So, if all goes according to plan, on the New Year bank holiday, I will start with another New Year Plant Hunt.

Botanical Survey - Hempstead Lane

 For my 2022 botanical survey, I decided to explore Hempstead Lane, Uckfield. 

• The lane is about 2km (1 and a quarter miles) runs from the town centre, over the river and flood plain, over the railway, through ancient woodland and between fields over a relatively short distance.
• It runs through two "tetrads" - i.e. squares on the map:
• TQ42Q for the first two sections, nearest the town centre
• TQ42V for the rest.
• I wanted to get a snapshot of what's in these different habitats and I've been rewarded by finding a wonderful range of plants including some I have never encountered before and a few that don't seem to have been recorded for the relevant tetrad. 
• I was aware that the part of the lane furthest from the town was old and runs alongside ancient woodland but I've been surprised at how close the ancient woodland species indicators come to the town. There are areas with these plants scattered along this old lane as far as Lime Tree Avenue. 
• The Flora, referred to below, is the Sussex Botanical Recording Society's The Flora of Sussex.

I divided the lane into a number of sections and recorded what I found in each on iRecord.  A huge thank you to the people who verified my records and to those in the SBRS Facebook group who helped me with identifications.

Section 1 - Near Town Centre

From the start of Hempstead Road to Lime Tree Ave.

Common Millet - 9 Jul 2022

In this section I found 47 species, most of which were opportunistic weeds and plants/grasses on a couple of small verges.  Common Millet (Panicum miliaceum), presumably from a bird feeder, was a new species for my records and, in the Flora, had not been recorded for TQ42Q up to 2015.

Section 2 - School Boundary

From Lime Tree Avenue to the start of the shaded path.

Creeping Yellow Cress - 12 June 2022

In this section I found 73 species. On the school side of the lane, there is a wooded verge with Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) and other ancient woodland indicators. On the other side, there are grass verges. A couple of these had "weeds" that I had not noticed before. These included Slender Trefoil (Trifolium micranthum), American Willowherb (Epilobium ciliatum), Nipplewort (Lapsana communis) and Creeping Yellow Cress (Rorippa sylvestris). According to the Flora, the latter had not been found in TQ42V between 2000 and 2015 although it was present previously.

Section 3 - Shaded Path

This part of the lane is not open to motor vehicles and is very shady. 

Wood Anemones - 26 March 2022

I found 34 species, many of which would look at home in an ancient woodland, including a Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense), Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), Ramsons (Allium ursinum) Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa), and Hart's-tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)

Section 4 - Between the Estates

Footpath skirting the bottom of a green area and running past the substation to Hempstead Mill.

Turkey Oak - 7 July 2022

I found 43 species - Many typical of hedgerows and I think some of these are old hedges with traditional planting such as Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) and even a Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera). The main surprise was a couple of  good-sized Turkey Oaks (Quercus cerris), one each side of the lane, near the new houses. Their history is a mystery to be solved!.

Section 5 - River and Flood Plain

From Hempstead Mill to just before the track separating the enclosed area with a big pond from the open field.

Alder - 27 February 2022

I found 40 species in this section.  The River Uck runs through the Mill's property and is associated with some wetland species such as Alder (Alnus glutinosa). The grassland, newly planted with hedge plants, is not that special but I did find Meadow Barley (Hordeum secalinum), which is a species that I have not noticed before.

Section 6 - Hedgerow

Between the hedges alongside the enclosed area with the big pond and old Horse Rescue buildings.

Upright Hedge Parsley - 31 July 2022

I found 56 species - mostly those associated with hedgerows. These included Upright Hedge Parsley (Torilis japonica), which I was particularly pleased to find because my previous favourite spot for it, right next to the railway, had spoil from railway work dumped on it, eliminating the more delicate wildflowers.

Section 7 - Railway

The trackbed and the little pieces of land immediately outside the level-crossing gates influenced by dumped "spoil" etc.

Tall Melliot - 10 Aug 2022

I found 37 species in this tiny area including some unusual weeds on the railway trackbed.  These included a new find (not in the Flora) for tetrad TQ42V - Tall Melliot (Melilotus altissimus),

Section 8 - Between Fields

From the railway to the beginning of Hempstead Wood.

Giant Horsetail - 2 June 2022

I found 41 species in this shaded and damp area. Oddly, there were more damp-loving species here than near the river. Species that I had not encountered before included Spiked Sedge (Carex spicata), Great Horsetail (Equisetum telmateia) and Square-Stalked Saint John's wort (Hypericum tetrapterum). According to the Flora, the latter has not been found in TQ42V between 2000 and 2015 although it was present previously. 

Section 9 - Alongside Hempstead Wood

Pendulous Sedge - 17 April 2022

I found 38 species along the part of the lane that borders ancient woodland. These included  plenty of ancient woodland indicators - Enchanters Nightshade (Circaea lutetiana), Field Maple, Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Red Currant (Ribes rubrum), Wild Cherry (Prunus avium), Wood Spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides), Yellow Archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon )  and Pendulous Sedge (Carex pendula). The latter dominates the path area and trickles back towards the town.

Section 10 - Holloway

Between the ancient woodland and the end of the lane.

Primroses - 17 April 2022

I found 27 species in this ancient, deep trackway. Some of the species are the same as the ancient woodland with the welcome addition of Primroses (Primula vulgaris) and Broad Buckler ferns (Dryopteris dilatata).

Big Garden Birdwatch - 2022

I did this morning's #BigGardenBirdwatch from 8:20 to 9:20am. It was bright but cold. I melted the ice in the bird bath, put some seed on the bird table and got going.  I didn't even wait to get inside, I heard the 'teacher, teacher' cry of the Great Tit and spotted a bunch of fat Woodpigeons dozing in the Oak and got recording.

Woodpigeons dozing and preening.

Then some small brown jobs are tumbling through our hedge - 3 cheeky House Sparrows. Scanning carefully with my binoculars I found a Dunnock. Far above, at the top of one of our birches, a Magpie. Then, for a long time, it seemed to go quiet.

Where are all the birds?

I prowled round the house, straining to see movement outside. Nothing around except the pigeons.  A movement in our birches caught my eye. Three little balls of yellow fluff - Bluetits - had appeared amongst the stunning black and white branches and trunks. They were soon joined by the Great Tit that I had already counted. Even so, I took a moment to admire its smart plumage against the white trunks and blue sky.

I moved to the back of the house to see if there was anything there.  A few starlings on the phone wires - but I can't count those. Then one drifted down into the Magnolia tree. The rest stayed stubbornly on the wire. A charm of Goldfinches flew straight past our garden into our neighbour's. A strong throbbing song from the top of our conifer drew my attention to a Robin. One of our usually reliably greedy Blackbirds had finally appeared to claim one of the grapes we had scattered outside earlier.

With the end of the hour coming into view, a shape appears in the Robinia and promptly disappeared behind a thick branch. Another pigeon? Then a pointed beak appeared followed by a bright blue eye. I added the Jackdaw to my list.

I give the Oak tree one more look - and found a Jay perching close to the group of Woodpigeons.  It has been visiting the garden for sometime.  In the Autumn, I spotted it caching acorns, so maybe it is back for a snack.

The final score.

I saw 20 birds from 11 species - very slightly more than last year.

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