Field meetings 2019

DateLeader(s)Location
Sunday 10 MarchBrad ScottHenfield: bryophytes for beginners. William Borrer (1781-1862) is one of the most important Sussex botanists, and his vascular plant records and introductions in the Henfield area are well known. Though we have some of his bryophyte records in the county, there are none for Henfield, which has barely any moss and liverwort records at all. We will focus on TQ21C. Park in the car park (TQ215159) and then we will explore the south of the village.
Friday 12 AprilRachel BickerMoulescoomb Forest Garden provides outdoor education to young people with learning difficulties. Vegetables are grown and cooked! The site also includes Queensdown Woods and a small area of open grassland. A management plan was written in 2009. If you would like a hot meal, bring some cash for a donation.
The Forest Garden is opposite Moulescoomb Rail Station. Buses no. 25, 25A, 10, 24, 28 and 49 go to the Cockcroft site of Brighton University. Walk along the Lewes Road for a couple of minutes. Turn left up Queensdown School Road. Go under the railway bridge and take the first turning left. The entrance is just past the electricity buildings. The postcode is BN1 3XG. However, you need to continue along the road and under the railway bridge.
Saturday 27 AprilSue DennessWidewater Lagoon (West Beach Road, Lancing BN43 5FU). Recording on the beach and around the landlocked, brackish lagoons. This is a return to add early season species to the list gathered in July 2018. Meet in the car park at TQ204042.
Tuesday 30 AprilTrudy Jacob/Elaine BootStanden. A beginner-friendly meeting helping Standen’s Ecology group to record the spring woodland flora. Meet in the car park: turn left just before the main entrance at TQ390357. Free admission will be arranged for non-NT members.
Saturday 11 MayJacqueline Rose/ Judy Clark/
Ellen Campbell
Montague Farm, Hankham. A wildlife friendly livestock farm in the Pevensey Levels SSSI. Specialities include Adder’s-tongue, Green-winged Orchid and Water-violet. From the A27, turn S. off the roundabout at TQ603048, then left off the next roundabout onto the B2247 to Stone Cross. At Stone Cross church turn left onto Hailsham Rd and take the first right to Hankham. Just past the primary school on your left, turn right onto Hankham Hall Rd. After c.250m the road bends right, but take the right hand of the two turnings to the left. This leads through a gate along the drive to Montague Farm (TQ623057; postcode BN24 5BB). There is ample parking.
Sunday 2 JuneDawn NelsonLeith Copse, South Harting. Survey of coppice on the downland scarp in SU71Z. The scarp is steep and can be slippery and uneven. Meet at Leith House: turn S. off B2146 W. of South Harting, onto Sussex Border Path lane; the drive entrance to Leith House is at SU77661963.
Saturday 8 JuneJacqueline Rose/ Judy Clark/
Ellen Campbell
Normans Bay. We expect to see coastal grassland, shingle and saltmarsh flora. Suitable for less experienced botanists. NB No toilets or café. Meet in the layby at TQ67550511. If there’s no space, park in the larger car park at TQ688057 and walk back (1 mile) or phone for shuttle service: 07732-116882, 07724-045701 or 07709-048278.
By train: trains run hourly to Normans Bay on the Ashford-Eastbourne / Eastbourne-Ashford lines. Walk seawards from the station, follow the road round to the right & continue to our meeting place at TQ67550511, about 4/5 mile (15–20 min walk).
Toilets: There are public toilets just seaward of where you bear right from the station, at TQ68400549 c.1km from the meeting place.
Sunday 16 JuneHelen ProctorBates Green Farm, Arlington. We will help the farmer, John McCutchan, to note plants of interest for the visiting public to Beatons Wood and surrounding farmland. A beginner-friendly meeting. Park on verge in Tye Hill Lane at TQ552077.
Sunday 23 JuneNick SturtHeyshott Common. Heathland plants: suitable for beginners but all welcome. Park by New Road at SU913195. Stout footwear advisable.
Saturday 29 JunePeter SmithWest Firle Beacon. A walk along the top of the Downs. We will look for Clinopodium ascendens and other chalk downland flowers. Meet in the car park at TQ468059.
Saturday 6 JulyRachel BickerMoulescoomb Forest Garden: See 12 April for details. The Forest Garden is opposite Moulescoomb Rail Station. Buses no. 25, 25A, 10, 24, 28 and 49 go to the Cockcroft site of Brighton University. Walk along the Lewes Road for a couple of minutes. Turn left up Queensdown School Road. Go under the railway bridge and take the first turning left. The entrance is just past the electricity buildings.
The postcode is BN1 3XG, but continue along the road and under the railway bridge. Please assemble midway up the slope of the garden. In case of rain, we will be seated in the covered area at the top of the garden. Some snacks, cold and hot drinks will be provided, but you may wish to bring along additional food or a packed lunch.
Sunday 7 JulyBrad ScottPlaw Hatch Farm, Forest Row. One of two biodynamic farms in the parish, Plaw Hatch is a mixed farm which covers 200 acres on the edge of Ashdown Forest. Its sister farm has had plants such as Erysimum cheiranthoides, Lamium hybridum, Spergula arvensis and Anthemis arvensis, recorded on it, so there could be some surprises. If time permits we may explore part of the Forest around Legsheath Lane. Meet in the farm car park at TQ394324.
Saturday 13 JulyDawn NelsonDrovers Estate NT, nr Singleton. Meet in layby N. of Singleton on the W. side of A286 (from the S., entry is at SU876139; from the N. it is at SU875140). We shall drive on in fewer cars to Drovers.
Wednesday 24 JulyElisabeth SturtThe Trundle, Goodwood. Meet in The Triangle car park at the top of the hill at SU879113. Chalk grassland and arable weeds, not to mention fine views over the coastal plain.
Saturday 10 AugustNick SturtMedmerry Reserve RSPB. Meet in the RSPB Earnley car park, SZ81639667, signposted from Earnley Church and just past the Adult Education Centre. We shall cover a variety of coastal habitats including newly-establishing saltmarsh on the W side of the Reserve. There will be some brisk walking.
Thursday 15 AugustHelen Proctor/Geoffrey Kitchener (KBRG)Bewl Water. Joint meeting with the Kent Botanical Recording Group. Meet in Rosemary Lane at TQ70013195. A circa three mile level walk near the reservoir on each side of the vice county boundaries. An interesting flora of the draw-down zone should be developing.