Samphire Hoe, Dover

With early spring flowers starting to pop up all over the place an afternoon trip to Samphire Hoe was in order to see the hundreds of Early Spider Orchids Ophrys sphegodes which have appeared on this man-made site. Samphire Hoe was created in 1997 using the 4.9 million cubic meters of chalk marl excavated by the building of the Channel Tunnel, creating a 30ha of new chalk down land in front of the cliffs.

The Beach at the end of Samphire Hoe, Dover

It didn't take long to find the Early-Spider Orchid with at least five plants in the overflow car park and then hundreds of plants along the paths towards the beach. It is thought that the disturbance caused by the creation of the site allowed windblown seed from nearby to take a flourish into what is currently Britain's most impressive site for this species.

Early Spider Orchid, Ophrys sphegodes

It was just the orchids which we saw, although early in the season there were still a few other species in flower. Common Milkwort Polygala vulgaris, is a small perennial plant with interesting blue or pink flowers. I was rather hoping to find a related species, Chalk Milkwort Polygala calcarea but had no luck this time.

Common Milkwort, Polygala vulgaris

Areas of scrubby vegetation, most of which was alongside the railway line contained the large flowering heads of Wayfaring Tree Viburnum lantana, a common species on calcareous soils. It white flowers will eventually give way to spays of red berries.

Wayfaring Tree, Viburnum lantana

Wild Cabbage, Brassica oleracea oleracea

All along the cliffs, sometimes clinging out of tiny crevices were plants of Wild Cabbage Brassica oleracea oleracea, a spindly declining species in Kent. It is currently thought that the species has been domesticated for thousands of years giving us the cultivars for cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale and cauliflower. Flowering alongside were the first of the years Bird's Foot Trefoil Lotus corniculata which will soon be carpeting the cliffs.










Apart from the floral interest, a Fox scaling the cliffs by the visitors centre, which then disturbed nesting Kestrels and a pair of Ravens with their recently fleged brood it was rather quiet fauna wise.

Postling Wood, Postling & Folkestone Warren, Folkestone

Having spent most of the last couple of months on the shingle at Dungeness, it was time to get away for an afternoon exploring some ancient woodland up on the North Downs. With David and Gill as guides for the day and Matt visiting we made our way to the first stop, Postling Wood which had a few botanical treasures.

Postling Wood, A woodland full of Ancient Woodland Indicators (AWIs)

Due to being up on the chalk, the canopy comprised mainly of Ash Fraxinus excelsior with an under story of Hazel Corylus avellana providing the perfect for common spring ephemeral species such as Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa and Primrose Primula vulgaris although beautiful plants to see it wasn't why we'd made the pilgrimage.

Although we were a little late in the year, there was still evidence of the Green Hellebore Helleborus viridis which grow along the road verge. Although all of them had gone to seed it was still nice to see their delicate green nodding heads and large palmate leaves.

Green Hellebore, Helleborus viridis

Second on the list to find was Toothwort Lathraea squamaria, a species I have seen before in Wales but never before in England. It's unusual colour comes from the fact it is a saprophyte and has no chlorophyll, instead it gets its nutrients parasitically from its host plant, often Hazel.

Toothwort, Lathraea squamaria

A few other plants of note were also seen, the deep purple flowers of Early Dog-Violet Viola reichenbachiana which is often found in chalky dry woods. It is distinguishable from the Common Dog-Violet Viola riviniana due to its flowers having dark centres, dark spur and rounded leaves.

Early Dog-Violet, Viola reichenbachiana

The odd looking flowers of Goldilocks Buttercup Ranunculus auricomus were quite common along the bank by the road. Another basic soil lover it's distinctive misshapen and often missing petals give it a shabby look.

Goldilocks Buttercup, Ranunculus auricomus

Also present were several large patches of Moschatel Adoxa moschatellina, also known as Town-Hall clock due to its for faced flowers.

Moschatel Adoxa moschatellina

Once we'd finished looking at the flora we took a quick trip into Folkestone to try our luck seeing the Common Wall Lizards Podarcis muralis which inhabit the cliffs there. Although non-native to Britain, it only got as far a the Channel Islands before the channel flooded after the last inter-glacial period, there are several populations around the UK.

The view from the top of the Warren, Folkestone

At least six individuals were seen at the top of the warren, close to a nearby cafe, where they frequenting several of the buildings. The males are beautifully marked with emerald green mottling along its back, often scuttling off quickly when anyone approached. How this population became established has been lost to history but the local story is that they were released by a local pet shop owner who failed to sell them. Now they're thriving and they're here to stay.

Common Wall Lizard, Podarcis muralis