Winter flowers, some unexpected trees and the best birdsong in the town on a walk to the old school playing fields of Normansal .
To make the most of the views and to notice all the flowers do the walk in both directions.
Flowers in January. Some were out on New Year’s Day. All are good for pollinators.
Snowflake / Leucojum
Viburnum tinus
Hazel catkins
Elephant’s Ears / Bergenia
Algerian Iris / I. unguicularis . Pale blue
green Hellebore corsica
Mahonia
Acacia (half-hardy)
Primrose in a sheltered place
Winter Heliotrope (too invasive in a garden)
Silk Tassel Bush / Garrya
Snowdrops
Sweet Violets
Periwinkle / Vinca
Celandine in a sheltered place
Winter Honeysuckle bush / Lonicera fragrantissima
Rosemary in a sheltered place.
Route
From the top of Blatchington Hill follow Upper Belgrave Road to St Peter’s Road on the left. At the end are some interesting trees.
Go through the gap in the hedge into Firle Drive.
On the corner is another tree which is unusual for Seaford. There are not many deciduous Oaks on the downland soil. It was the leaves on the ground which revealed it.
Turn right into Firle Rd. with its wide grass verges.
At the end of the long bend is a dip in the grass outside St John’s school where there was a pond.
The wizened Hawthorns with lichens, on a dry hump further up look like a remnant of the old road to Firle.
Follow the right angle at the top and continue past the golf club entrance to the wildflower verge and past Blatchington Green.
After the gateway to the care home (where Normansal school used to be) there is a short footpath on the left through the trees to Chalvington Close. The wide south facing verge had 9 wildflowers open at New Year.
The thicket at the top of Normansal Park is south facing and the wildflowers on its margin come early. The gap in the thicket to Chalvington Field may be muddy after rain. There are 2 other Pines as well as the Scots Pine. There is enough shelter from the thicket for sitting on the benches as well as for the many butterflies on the summer flowers.
Return to Blatchington down the hill to Upper Belgrave Road and then almost immediately left into Homefield Road. There are usually some wildflowers somewhere along this road.
Melene
