Steve
Enjoying the nature and history of east Kent, after a lifetime of spreadsheets.
- Two rapidly-spreading species here in east Kent. Musk Stork’s-bill and Rescue Brome. If their spread continues they’ll be a real menace (like last year’s equivalent, Water Bent). Similar elsewhere in the country?
- And the prize for the most unexpected flower in January goes to….. Water Figwort! Wingham River in Kent. #wildflowerhour
- The sundial on Wingham church is impressively calibrated!
- Oxford Ragwort still flowering beside the railway tracks near Paddington station. #wildflowerhour
- This seems to be an unusual pattern of wood grain in Holm Oak - does anyone know what causes it?
- A nice colony of Moth Mullein has naturalised on the spoil of an East Kent Colliery, out of the reach of nearby builders. Precious few other species flowering for #wildflowerhour
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- No snowflakes in East Kent this week, but there was one Cow Parsley plant found in flower #wildflowerhour
- Tried to escape the bitter wind in Dover town for #NewYearPlantHunt #3, but failed 🥶. Frost made it difficult to find flowers, but we managed 37 species. Even the Soldiers were sheltering from the wind.
- The Far East corner of Kent gave us flowering plants in churchyard, road verges and harrowed fields. ⭐️ was Sharp-leaved Fluellen. 62 species for #NewYearPlantHunt #2
- Cold wind but sunny - who would have expected Common Poppy to be flowering now, in the Far East Kent #NewYearPlantHunt ?
- #NewYearPlantHunt got off to a good start in a cold wind, in Woden’s East Kent, with 68 species flowering. Sandy arable delivers! Rescue Brome, Musk Stork’s-bill are both increasing rapidly here, and Alexanders is everywhere(but precious few flowering yet). Garden Cress was new to us.
- A Happy New Year to all! 🥂🌼 My summary of the year is on the blog kingsdownkent.blogspot.com ending with the find of the month, Argentine Fleabane (Erigeron bonariensis), found on a farm track in Marshborough, a second for Kent (the first being in 1978 in Greenhythe).
- Finally, after checking many Holly bushes, the first flowers! #wildflowerhour
- The first flowers of Green Hellebore are starting to open, part of a thriving population in a wood in deepest east Kent #wildflowerhour
- Blue Fleabane is still to be found. The Latin name Erigeron means “old man’s ear-hair” apparently - very accurate! #wildflowerhour
- The number of flowering species is falling now (and will fall further before the NYPH no doubt) but some sturdy types are hanging on - pleased to find this Small-flowered Crane’s-bill #wildflowerhour
- Arable weeds in a harrowed-not-sprayed field near Dover. Plants like Dwarf Spurge, Field Madder and Dense-flowered Fumitory are good to see, especially in December. #wildflowerhour #wnter10
- Plentiful Cut-Leaved Dead-Nettle in a newly-planted orchard brightened up a dull floral week #wildflowerhour
- Marvellous assessment of the first session of the test. www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
- Strolling round Sandwich we happened upon St Clement’s church, where the churchyard is sensitively managed for wildlife. @kentwildlife.bsky.social www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/rewildi...
- Our #NovemberFlowerChallenge ended on 248 species, mostly late-flowerers, but occasionally (like Primrose and Winter Heliotrope) early. An unusual month in many ways. #wildflowerhour
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- Stinking Chamomile brings up 245 flowering species in November. And fire and brimstone in the sunshine!
- The November flower list ticked up to 240 with a Goat’s-beard at The Bay, where a farmer kindly led frisky cattle away from the footpath. The favourite Lunch Bench was occupied.
- A few more species added to the #NovemberFlowerChallenge list, including the charming Hare’s-Foot Clover. Also Common Cudweed, Narrow-Leaved Meadow-Grass and a naturalised Himalayan Honeysuckle, at a deserted Betteshanger Park. 237.
- Basil Thyme has been the most surprising flowering plant found in our #Novemberflowerchallenge. The mild month has (so far) given up 229 species while the Surrey competitor has seen more. #wildflowerhour KingsdownKent.blogspot.com
- Day 15 of the #NovemberFlowerChallenge, and a good one despite the mist. Some good chalk species added from Lydden, including a late Autumn Gentian, Basil Thyme, Dyers Greenweed and a solitary Botanists’ Thistle. And Monkey-Flower by the Dour. Now on 228 species.
- Surprisingly pleasant on the cliffs of St Margaret’s Bay, with only a bit of drizzle. Added Goldenrod and Orange Mullein, bringing the #Novemberflowerchallenge total up to 218 species. Entertainment was provided by a displaying Raven.
