Life Springs Up on the Downs
With Spring rapidly evolving into early Summer and with a period of good rainfall in early May, there is now a quick succession of plants coming into flower.
Cowslips and early flowering Orchids are now going to seed, to be replaced by a great range of flowers with common species including:
Orchids in early June include green Twayblade, pink Fragrant and Common Spotted Orchids.
Currently caterpillars are eating their respective favourite foodplants, including Chalk Hill Blue munching Horseshoe Vetch and various Skippers eating Sheeps Fescue grass, both found on old downland areas.
Cuckoo spit should be plentiful over the coming weeks, with minute green frog hoppers taking refuge within the rapidly growing flowers and grasses.
From a practical point, with all the hedge planting having taken place by volunteer Rangers during late winter at various sites, the May rainfall should be beneficial to help establish the young plants.
Mowing Regime
The Downland estate team are completing the mowing regime upon the recreational grassland areas, starting the mowing cycle on the National Trust boundary at Belle Tout, passing through the Beachy Head area and access points along the urban edge of Eastbourne, through to the Butts Brow car park.
The mowing takes place throughout the growing season, to allow people to spread out on downland adjacent to parking areas and access points.
The sensitive old chalk grassland areas are all left alone, as prescribed in the mowing plans illustrated in the Eastbourne Downland Management Plan. These have been agreed by the Conservation Officer with Natural England, as much of the cliff top area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
A contractor will shortly be grinding stumps at certain areas, left from the scrub management works last winter. The stumps are levelled so that an area can be mown in the future, to encourage traditional grassland habitat.
Guided Walks
The Downland Ranger, Dave Pearce has a series of guided walks and cycle rides on the downland, with the walks concentrating on certain areas and looking at features of interest.
For further information, you can download the 'Exploring East Sussex' brochure directly from East Sussex County Council's (ESCC) website, or contact the Downland Ranger:
