A corner of TQ54 that is forever Sussex

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The little hook-like shape in the middle of the northern boundary of Sussex is in Withyham parish and is where the hamlet of Blackham borders Kent. The most northerly 300 square metres of it are the only part of Sussex in the hectad TQ54 which, until today, had about 20 vascular plant taxa recorded in it, so I thought it would be interesting to have a look at it since it is on my doorstep.

Having parked the car I walked down the hill, only to discover a golf course, and my heart sank.

Picture of Villae Golf Course
Villa Golf Course, just nestling on the Sussex side of Kent Water

However, the hedgerows were worth recording, and even the damp ditch in the golf course was worth a look. There was nothing especially remarkable, even walking along Kent Water, the boundary between the counties, but even this brief visit added maybe 40 or more species for the tetrad in an hour, and there is still more of the area to explore.

As it happened, the prettiest thing that turned up was this rather lovely, if extremely common, hoverfly Leucozona lucorum.

Picture of Leucozona lucorum
Leucozona lucorum