Brimstone male butterfly, Small tortoiseshell and Bee-fly, first sightings in Cuckfield this year.

 The first Brimstone sighting of the year in my garden but not the first in Sussex.  That was yesterday.

Haywards Heath u3a, Purple toothwort, 4.5 miles circular Nature Trail

 On the top of the High Weald ridge that is Ardingly showground the wind was bitingly cold this Wednesday morning on the 9th March 2022 as 

Sarah, Susan, Paul, Phil, Angela, Marion, Hilary, Mike, Janice, Nick, Valerie, Gloria, Gloria & Anne set off with me to see the clandestine, Purple Toothwort, Lathraea clandestina.  Then up, down and up again to see a post-medieval coffer dam on this typical High Weald walk.  

Click on if you wish to expand the pictures.

More info' at  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lathraea_clandestina and also https://sussexrambler.blogspot.com/search?q=purple+toothwort  

Descending the valley, care was taken to keep to the public footpath along the hedge line as it passes around and not through Tillinghurst farmyard. Purple toothwort was seen and later the post-medieval breached coffer dam and former hammer pond up stream from Westwood Lake at Wakehurst place. 

An excellent display board, above by Kew Gardens at Westwood Lake explains the history of iron making here with beautiful graphics. 

On the coffer dam.

Hebridean rare breed sheep were admired in Kew's meadow.

The route can be seen at https://out.ac/IBKVHV

For more information on Haywards Heath u3a and to join future nature walks, please see https://www.haywardsheathu3a.org.uk/