May
Dingy Skipper The Dingy Skipper, Erynnis tages is a butterfly that is becoming increasingly rare in the UK. In the High Weald it is becoming rarer due to habitat loss and has been lost from several key sites ... Read more |
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Marsh Gentian The Marsh Gentian, Gentiana pneumonanthe is a scarce plant that can still be found on damp heathland in the Weald. Read more |
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Yellow Flag Iris The Yellow Flag Iris, Iris pseudacorus is seen frequently. It is sometimes called Segg, which comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for a short sword. When you look at the blade-like character of the leaves... Read more |
Water Crowfoot Water Crowfoot, Ranunculus aquatilis, begins to cover ponds, ditches and streams with a carpet of beautiful white flowers. Read more |
Ragged Robin The Ragged Robin, Lychnis flos-cuculi is so named because of its’ deeply-lobed petals that form a ragged or torn look. Read more |
Petty Whin Petty Whin, Genista anglica, is a spindly shrub, often found growing in amongst Ling. Unusually, the flowers change from yellow to green when dried. Read more |
Yellow Rattle Yellow Rattle, Rhianthus minor flowers from May onwards. The seeds are held in capsules which do rattle when ripe. In centuries past, this was used as an indicator that the hay was ready to cut. Read more |
Ox-Eye Daisy The Ox-Eye Daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare is sometimes known as a moon-penny as it can seem to glow in the fields on moonlight mid-summer evenings. Read more |
Quaking Grass Quaking Grass, Briza media, gets its’ name from the small heart‐shaped spikelets or cones which tremble and dance in the slightest breeze. Read more |
Common Sorrel Common Sorrel, Rumex acetosa is sometimes used in salads and nibbled by children, but is also known as Sour Docks or Vinegar Leaves due to it’s tart flavour. Read more |
Bird’s Foot Trefoil The Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Lotus corniculatus has a large collection of country names such as Eggs and Bacon that refer to the flower colour, and the wickedly accurate Granny’s Toenails that relate to t... Read more |
Speckled Wood Butterfly The Speckled Wood butterfly, Pararge aegeria is common in woodlands wherever dappled light occurs. It appears to be an early beneficiary of climate change. A medium sized butterfly, the speckled patt... Read more |
Blue and Coal Tits Blue Tits (Parus caeruleus) will be familiar to most people, and like the less familiar Coal Tit (Parus ater) will be noisy and active with their young. Even less common but worth looking out for is t... Read more |
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Green Woodpecker The Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) is the largest of the three woodpeckers that breed in this country. It has a heavy-looking body, short tail and a strong, long bill. It is greeny-grey on its uppe... Read more |
Lily of the valley Lily of the valley, Convallaria majalis has one of the most beautiful scents of any of our native flowers, and can be seen in abundance in some of the High Weald woodlands. Read more |
Herb Paris Herb Paris, Paris quadrifolia is a plant that loves shady, half-lit corners of woodlands. The name ‘Paris’ has nothing to do with the French capital, but comes from the Latin par, meaning ‘equal’, whi... Read more |
Garlic Mustard Garlic Mustard, Alliaria petiolata is often known by the country name of Jack-by-the-hedge. It was commonly used in the 17th Century as a flavouring for fish and lamb and has a enjoyed renewed popular... Read more |
