Continuing on our search for flowers for early bees – an old route near Sutton Mill
Sutton Mill was between Milldown Rd. and East Albany Rd. so this is an old route. The tree lined roads and banks on this down are distinctive and flowery in spring hinting at what may have been here before.
Here is a list of flowers to be seen on this walk in January
- Winter-flowering Cherry / Prunus subhirtella Autumnalis in 2 places
- Primrose (a spring flower which opens in winter by a wall or a bush)
- Sweet Violets
- Silk Tassel bush/Garrya (pollen)
- Gorse
- Snowdrop buds
- Mahonia Charity
- Viburnum bodnantense
- Snowflake / Leucojum buds
Route
From East Albany Road turn into Grove Road and watch the verges for signs of spring.
Go down to the pond path via the steps beside the bank and past the new trees planted by Trees for Seaford. Sometimes in January a Grey Wagtail with some yellow feathers can be seen at the muddy edge of the pond. The Hellebores and Snowdrops were planted by the Blatchington Pond Society led by the late Cedric Trenfield.
Continue up the old drove road with its green banks and hedges to the barn garden at The Downs. There may be a bumblebee on the scented yellow Mahonia. The Viburnums also waft their scent.
To complete the walk return down Sutton Drove to the footpath in Milldown Drive. It is an ancient route from High and Over past the mill. Its direction appears to go towards The Crouch and High St.
Melene
