Eastbourne Group - May 2025 events

David Beer

Chiddingly Walk, Thursday 8 May

The Wealden countryside was at its best on a warm, sunny and calm spring morning. Many of the woodland flowers were in full bloom and the hedgerows were full of Hawthorn blossom. A group of Swallows were flying low over a pond close to Chiddingly Place and, as we approached the first woodland, we were treated to birdsong from Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Song Thrushes. 

Speckled Woods, Orange Tips and Brimstones were active in the sunny glades. As we approached the ponds at the far end of Belt Wood, the bells from Chiddingly Church sounded the start of the two minutes silence for VE Day. We were able to stand quietly on the bridge between the ponds observing Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies flying between the willows before the bells marked the end of the two minutes. On our return to the car park along the Wealdway, we listened to the song of a Garden Warbler and observed a group of very fine Early Purple Orchids. We had excellent views of a pair of Buzzards and a hovering Kestrel was spotted at the end of our walk.

Thursday 15 May, Evening Talk

Ian Currie, a former BBC meteorologist, delivered a very entertaining talk on the life of Gilbert White and the contribution he made to meteorology and gardening in addition to his meticulous natural history observations. Ian used his encyclopaedic knowledge of weather records, together with detailed illustrations, to bring to life the diaries of this 18th century clergyman and naturalist.

Thursday 22 May, Whitbread Hollow Walk

Another warm and sunny day greeted a group of 14 walkers as we assembled outside Bede’s Prep School at the end of the South Downs. Horseshoe Vetch and Bird’s Foot Trefoil were amongst many of the Chalk Grassland flowers in full bloom and we set off confident of seeing a good number of butterflies. Common Blues, Speckled Woods and Small Heaths were active and two Dingy Skippers were seen sunning themselves on a bare patch of the footpath. Speckled Yellow moths were abundant and a stunning Cinnibar Moth was spotted on a patch of long grasses. The highlight, however, was a single male Adonis Blue with its brilliantly coloured blue wings. Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats sang from the shrubby vegetation and Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and a Garden Warbler could be heard in the wooded areas.