Debbie Alston
@debbie1alston.bsky.social
Early retired ecologist, nature enthusiast and conservation volunteer now living in Sussex. Botany, butterflies, birds and mammals mostly. Monty Python and Michael Palin fan.
Our first visit to Mill Hill LNR near Shoreham today. We helped some local volunteers remove cotoneaster, privet and hawthorn to restore the chalk grassland which has declined in quality in recent years to be able to support typical chalk grassland butterflies.
January 29, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Our first visit to Mill Hill LNR near Shoreham today. We helped some local volunteers remove cotoneaster, privet and hawthorn to restore the chalk grassland which has declined in quality in recent years to be able to support typical chalk grassland butterflies.
A great day clearing scrub to open up the chalk grassland on #EastbourneDownland today - Before and after photos...
January 28, 2026 at 4:18 PM
A great day clearing scrub to open up the chalk grassland on #EastbourneDownland today - Before and after photos...
Snowdrops in flower in Southease churchyard #wildflowerhour
January 25, 2026 at 8:04 PM
Snowdrops in flower in Southease churchyard #wildflowerhour
Lesser celandine in flower near Southease, East Sussex #wildflowerhour
January 25, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Lesser celandine in flower near Southease, East Sussex #wildflowerhour
Another day, another bonfire 🔥. Scrub cleared from chalk grassland, but way too much for habitat piles #EastbourneDownland
January 22, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Another day, another bonfire 🔥. Scrub cleared from chalk grassland, but way too much for habitat piles #EastbourneDownland
Clearing Pashley Crossdyke ( an archaeological feature) on #EastbourneDownland today with both conservation and heritage volunteers. Before and after photos...
January 21, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Clearing Pashley Crossdyke ( an archaeological feature) on #EastbourneDownland today with both conservation and heritage volunteers. Before and after photos...
Stinking Hellebore seen flowering this week in Eastbourne, East Sussex #wildflowerhour
January 18, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Stinking Hellebore seen flowering this week in Eastbourne, East Sussex #wildflowerhour
Reposted by Debbie Alston
Join the UK Big Garden Birdwatch between 23-25 January 2026..... 🐦⬛
www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...
www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...
Big Garden Birdwatch
Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. Every year, hundreds of thousands of nature lovers like you take part, helping to build a picture of how garden birds are faring.
www.rspb.org.uk
January 18, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Join the UK Big Garden Birdwatch between 23-25 January 2026..... 🐦⬛
www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...
www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...
Another successful work party at Rowland wood with 18 other @savebutterflies.bsky.social volunteers. Thinning and coppicing coupes for Fritillary butterflies - making some small habitat likes/hibernacula and having a bonfire too.
January 18, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Another successful work party at Rowland wood with 18 other @savebutterflies.bsky.social volunteers. Thinning and coppicing coupes for Fritillary butterflies - making some small habitat likes/hibernacula and having a bonfire too.
Volunteering at Seven Sisters Country Park today for @southdownsnp.bsky.social . We joined staff helping to clear washed up debris on the strandline from recent broken containers at sea. The weather was terrible on the beach for photos, so this was all I can show - today's last bag of onions found!
January 15, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Volunteering at Seven Sisters Country Park today for @southdownsnp.bsky.social . We joined staff helping to clear washed up debris on the strandline from recent broken containers at sea. The weather was terrible on the beach for photos, so this was all I can show - today's last bag of onions found!
Volunteering with @southdownsnp.bsky.social on #EastbourneDownland today - restoring the chalk grassland by managing the bramble and scrub edges today
January 14, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Volunteering with @southdownsnp.bsky.social on #EastbourneDownland today - restoring the chalk grassland by managing the bramble and scrub edges today
Wood avens in flower this week in East Sussex #wildflowerhour
January 11, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Wood avens in flower this week in East Sussex #wildflowerhour
A rather diminative Red champion flower seen this week in East Sussex #wildflowerhour
January 11, 2026 at 8:23 PM
A rather diminative Red champion flower seen this week in East Sussex #wildflowerhour
Coppicing on @savebutterflies.bsky.social reserve Rowland Wood today - creating open space for the violets and Fritillary butterflies
January 11, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Coppicing on @savebutterflies.bsky.social reserve Rowland Wood today - creating open space for the violets and Fritillary butterflies
Three of the expected flowers seen from my 5 #NewYearPlantHunt s in East Sussex this week - Butchers Broom, Winter heliotrope and Hazel. #Wildflowerhour
January 4, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Three of the expected flowers seen from my 5 #NewYearPlantHunt s in East Sussex this week - Butchers Broom, Winter heliotrope and Hazel. #Wildflowerhour
The most surprising flowers seen from my 5 #NewYearPlantHunt s in East Sussex this week. Kidney vet h, Wild Clary, Alexanders and a Hawkweed #wildflowerhour
January 4, 2026 at 8:09 PM
The most surprising flowers seen from my 5 #NewYearPlantHunt s in East Sussex this week. Kidney vet h, Wild Clary, Alexanders and a Hawkweed #wildflowerhour
Lesser celandine in flower near Arlington reservoir, East Sussex today on a #NewYearplantHunt. #wildflowerhour
January 4, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Lesser celandine in flower near Arlington reservoir, East Sussex today on a #NewYearplantHunt. #wildflowerhour
Lesser celandine seen in flower this morning in East Sussex
January 4, 2026 at 1:40 PM
Lesser celandine seen in flower this morning in East Sussex
Final declaration from the Sussex Botanical Recording Society #NewYearPlantHunt in Seaford today was 37 species, including Wild clary. Sunny, but with a bitingly cold icy wind 🥶
January 3, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Final declaration from the Sussex Botanical Recording Society #NewYearPlantHunt in Seaford today was 37 species, including Wild clary. Sunny, but with a bitingly cold icy wind 🥶
Reposted by Debbie Alston
A reminder of the noble tradition of 'stopping the clock' halfway through a #NewYearPlantHunt to grab a hot drink, thaw out, eat cake etc.
Especially important when the weather is so cold!
Stay warm and safe botanists, we don't want any of you to get frozen!
Especially important when the weather is so cold!
Stay warm and safe botanists, we don't want any of you to get frozen!
Sussex Botanical Recording Society #NewYearPlanthunt in East Sussex in Seaford - 19 people and 32 plants at 'stop the clock' time
January 3, 2026 at 1:51 PM
A reminder of the noble tradition of 'stopping the clock' halfway through a #NewYearPlantHunt to grab a hot drink, thaw out, eat cake etc.
Especially important when the weather is so cold!
Stay warm and safe botanists, we don't want any of you to get frozen!
Especially important when the weather is so cold!
Stay warm and safe botanists, we don't want any of you to get frozen!
Sussex Botanical Recording Society #NewYearPlanthunt in East Sussex in Seaford - 19 people and 32 plants at 'stop the clock' time
January 3, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Sussex Botanical Recording Society #NewYearPlanthunt in East Sussex in Seaford - 19 people and 32 plants at 'stop the clock' time
A solo #newyearplanthunt this afternoon around Hampden Park in Eastbourne . Total of 27 species seen in flower including Winter heliotrope and female Hazel flowers!
January 2, 2026 at 4:26 PM
A solo #newyearplanthunt this afternoon around Hampden Park in Eastbourne . Total of 27 species seen in flower including Winter heliotrope and female Hazel flowers!
Winter blooming of hundreds of plants in UK ‘visible signal’ of climate breakdown www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Winter blooming of hundreds of plants in UK ‘visible signal’ of climate breakdown
New year plant hunt shows rising temperatures are shifting natural cycles of wildflowers such as daisies
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Winter blooming of hundreds of plants in UK ‘visible signal’ of climate breakdown www.theguardian.com/environment/...
I went on an organised #Newyearplanthunt this morning in Lewes, East Sussex. 18 species seen including Kidney vetch, Ox eye daisy, Musk mallow and Butchers broom.
January 2, 2026 at 2:31 PM
I went on an organised #Newyearplanthunt this morning in Lewes, East Sussex. 18 species seen including Kidney vetch, Ox eye daisy, Musk mallow and Butchers broom.
Did my first #NewYearPlantHunt of 2036 today around Eastbourne -43 ( or 44) species. The most surprising was a Hawkweed in full flower!
January 1, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Did my first #NewYearPlantHunt of 2036 today around Eastbourne -43 ( or 44) species. The most surprising was a Hawkweed in full flower!