For illustrated talks on natural history and history see www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

For illustrated talks on natural history and history click here for www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

Monday, 24 March 2025

Snake's head fritillaries naturalised in a lawn in Cuckfield, West Sussex, UK

 

A specialist group at https://www.fritillaria.org.uk/uk-sites.html lists one site in Sussex where these native flowers can be seen – in the bog garden at Wakehurst Place.

Over decades, I have searched damp meadows in Surrey and Sussex and failed to find these flowers in the wild.

Now they have naturalised in my wildflower lawn in Cuckfield.  These photographs were taken on Monday 24 March 2025.

How is this possible?  Bulbs purchased from commercial growers set seed, which has been scattered around the garden, germinated, put up green shoots and because the grass is mown rarely, have developed bulbs and flowered. 

Cuckfield has a ring of springs surrounding the village and my garden is on that contour line.  Although with no spring, the garden is very damp.  Marsh thistles and a dozen or more Southern marsh orchids also thrive in the lawn.






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