Steve
@kingsdowner.bsky.social
Enjoying the nature and history of east Kent, after a lifetime of spreadsheets.
Two rapidly-spreading species here in east Kent.
Musk Stork’s-bill and Rescue Brome.
If their spread continues they’ll be a real menace (like last year’s equivalent, Water Bent).
Similar elsewhere in the country?
Musk Stork’s-bill and Rescue Brome.
If their spread continues they’ll be a real menace (like last year’s equivalent, Water Bent).
Similar elsewhere in the country?
February 4, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Two rapidly-spreading species here in east Kent.
Musk Stork’s-bill and Rescue Brome.
If their spread continues they’ll be a real menace (like last year’s equivalent, Water Bent).
Similar elsewhere in the country?
Musk Stork’s-bill and Rescue Brome.
If their spread continues they’ll be a real menace (like last year’s equivalent, Water Bent).
Similar elsewhere in the country?
And the prize for the most unexpected flower in January goes to…..
Water Figwort!
Wingham River in Kent.
#wildflowerhour
Water Figwort!
Wingham River in Kent.
#wildflowerhour
February 1, 2026 at 7:31 PM
And the prize for the most unexpected flower in January goes to…..
Water Figwort!
Wingham River in Kent.
#wildflowerhour
Water Figwort!
Wingham River in Kent.
#wildflowerhour
The sundial on Wingham church is impressively calibrated!
January 28, 2026 at 7:56 PM
The sundial on Wingham church is impressively calibrated!
Oxford Ragwort still flowering beside the railway tracks near Paddington station. #wildflowerhour
January 25, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Oxford Ragwort still flowering beside the railway tracks near Paddington station. #wildflowerhour
This seems to be an unusual pattern of wood grain in Holm Oak - does anyone know what causes it?
January 22, 2026 at 4:39 PM
This seems to be an unusual pattern of wood grain in Holm Oak - does anyone know what causes it?
A nice colony of Moth Mullein has naturalised on the spoil of an East Kent Colliery, out of the reach of nearby builders.
Precious few other species flowering for #wildflowerhour
Precious few other species flowering for #wildflowerhour
January 18, 2026 at 7:27 PM
A nice colony of Moth Mullein has naturalised on the spoil of an East Kent Colliery, out of the reach of nearby builders.
Precious few other species flowering for #wildflowerhour
Precious few other species flowering for #wildflowerhour
Reposted by Steve
A Kingfisher on a stick giving a tweet and a twirl at Rye Harbour.
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
#kingfisher
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
#kingfisher
January 12, 2026 at 8:26 AM
A Kingfisher on a stick giving a tweet and a twirl at Rye Harbour.
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
#kingfisher
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
#kingfisher
No snowflakes in East Kent this week, but there was one Cow Parsley plant found in flower #wildflowerhour
January 4, 2026 at 7:34 PM
No snowflakes in East Kent this week, but there was one Cow Parsley plant found in flower #wildflowerhour
Tried to escape the bitter wind in Dover town for #NewYearPlantHunt #3, but failed 🥶. Frost made it difficult to find flowers, but we managed 37 species.
Even the Soldiers were sheltering from the wind.
Even the Soldiers were sheltering from the wind.
January 3, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Tried to escape the bitter wind in Dover town for #NewYearPlantHunt #3, but failed 🥶. Frost made it difficult to find flowers, but we managed 37 species.
Even the Soldiers were sheltering from the wind.
Even the Soldiers were sheltering from the wind.
The Far East corner of Kent gave us flowering plants in churchyard, road verges and harrowed fields. ⭐️ was Sharp-leaved Fluellen. 62 species for #NewYearPlantHunt #2
January 2, 2026 at 4:47 PM
The Far East corner of Kent gave us flowering plants in churchyard, road verges and harrowed fields. ⭐️ was Sharp-leaved Fluellen. 62 species for #NewYearPlantHunt #2
Cold wind but sunny - who would have expected Common Poppy to be flowering now, in the Far East Kent #NewYearPlantHunt ?
January 2, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Cold wind but sunny - who would have expected Common Poppy to be flowering now, in the Far East Kent #NewYearPlantHunt ?
#NewYearPlantHunt got off to a good start in a cold wind, in Woden’s East Kent, with 68 species flowering. Sandy arable delivers!
Rescue Brome, Musk Stork’s-bill are both increasing rapidly here, and Alexanders is everywhere(but precious few flowering yet).
Garden Cress was new to us.
Rescue Brome, Musk Stork’s-bill are both increasing rapidly here, and Alexanders is everywhere(but precious few flowering yet).
Garden Cress was new to us.
January 1, 2026 at 4:46 PM
#NewYearPlantHunt got off to a good start in a cold wind, in Woden’s East Kent, with 68 species flowering. Sandy arable delivers!
Rescue Brome, Musk Stork’s-bill are both increasing rapidly here, and Alexanders is everywhere(but precious few flowering yet).
Garden Cress was new to us.
Rescue Brome, Musk Stork’s-bill are both increasing rapidly here, and Alexanders is everywhere(but precious few flowering yet).
Garden Cress was new to us.
A Happy New Year to all! 🥂🌼
My summary of the year is on the blog kingsdownkent.blogspot.com ending with the find of the month, Argentine Fleabane (Erigeron bonariensis), found on a farm track in Marshborough, a second for Kent (the first being in 1978 in Greenhythe).
My summary of the year is on the blog kingsdownkent.blogspot.com ending with the find of the month, Argentine Fleabane (Erigeron bonariensis), found on a farm track in Marshborough, a second for Kent (the first being in 1978 in Greenhythe).
December 31, 2025 at 4:17 PM
A Happy New Year to all! 🥂🌼
My summary of the year is on the blog kingsdownkent.blogspot.com ending with the find of the month, Argentine Fleabane (Erigeron bonariensis), found on a farm track in Marshborough, a second for Kent (the first being in 1978 in Greenhythe).
My summary of the year is on the blog kingsdownkent.blogspot.com ending with the find of the month, Argentine Fleabane (Erigeron bonariensis), found on a farm track in Marshborough, a second for Kent (the first being in 1978 in Greenhythe).
Finally, after checking many Holly bushes, the first flowers! #wildflowerhour
December 28, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Finally, after checking many Holly bushes, the first flowers! #wildflowerhour
The first flowers of Green Hellebore are starting to open, part of a thriving population in a wood in deepest east Kent #wildflowerhour
December 28, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The first flowers of Green Hellebore are starting to open, part of a thriving population in a wood in deepest east Kent #wildflowerhour
Blue Fleabane is still to be found. The Latin name Erigeron means “old man’s ear-hair” apparently - very accurate!
#wildflowerhour
#wildflowerhour
December 21, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Blue Fleabane is still to be found. The Latin name Erigeron means “old man’s ear-hair” apparently - very accurate!
#wildflowerhour
#wildflowerhour
The number of flowering species is falling now (and will fall further before the NYPH no doubt) but some sturdy types are hanging on - pleased to find this Small-flowered Crane’s-bill
#wildflowerhour
#wildflowerhour
December 21, 2025 at 7:45 PM
The number of flowering species is falling now (and will fall further before the NYPH no doubt) but some sturdy types are hanging on - pleased to find this Small-flowered Crane’s-bill
#wildflowerhour
#wildflowerhour
Arable weeds in a harrowed-not-sprayed field near Dover.
Plants like Dwarf Spurge, Field Madder and Dense-flowered Fumitory are good to see, especially in December.
#wildflowerhour #wnter10
Plants like Dwarf Spurge, Field Madder and Dense-flowered Fumitory are good to see, especially in December.
#wildflowerhour #wnter10
December 14, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Arable weeds in a harrowed-not-sprayed field near Dover.
Plants like Dwarf Spurge, Field Madder and Dense-flowered Fumitory are good to see, especially in December.
#wildflowerhour #wnter10
Plants like Dwarf Spurge, Field Madder and Dense-flowered Fumitory are good to see, especially in December.
#wildflowerhour #wnter10
Plentiful Cut-Leaved Dead-Nettle in a newly-planted orchard brightened up a dull floral week #wildflowerhour
December 7, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Plentiful Cut-Leaved Dead-Nettle in a newly-planted orchard brightened up a dull floral week #wildflowerhour
Marvellous assessment of the first session of the test.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
Oh Duckett. I was fearing for Crawley when I should have been worrying about Ben | Max Rushden
Up against the brilliant Mitchell Starc and his band of bowlers, even a dot ball for England in the Ashes is a moment of relief
www.theguardian.com
December 4, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Marvellous assessment of the first session of the test.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
Strolling round Sandwich we happened upon St Clement’s church, where the churchyard is sensitively managed for wildlife. @kentwildlife.bsky.social www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/rewildi...
December 2, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Strolling round Sandwich we happened upon St Clement’s church, where the churchyard is sensitively managed for wildlife. @kentwildlife.bsky.social www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/rewildi...
Our #NovemberFlowerChallenge ended on 248 species, mostly late-flowerers, but occasionally (like Primrose and Winter Heliotrope) early. An unusual month in many ways.
#wildflowerhour
#wildflowerhour
November 30, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Our #NovemberFlowerChallenge ended on 248 species, mostly late-flowerers, but occasionally (like Primrose and Winter Heliotrope) early. An unusual month in many ways.
#wildflowerhour
#wildflowerhour
Reposted by Steve
Naturally, @zdroberts.bsky.social took time out of his holiday to write a story about this for @ecvanalog.bsky.social
November 27, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Naturally, @zdroberts.bsky.social took time out of his holiday to write a story about this for @ecvanalog.bsky.social
Stinking Chamomile brings up 245 flowering species in November.
And fire and brimstone in the sunshine!
And fire and brimstone in the sunshine!
November 26, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Stinking Chamomile brings up 245 flowering species in November.
And fire and brimstone in the sunshine!
And fire and brimstone in the sunshine!
The November flower list ticked up to 240 with a Goat’s-beard at The Bay, where a farmer kindly led frisky cattle away from the footpath.
The favourite Lunch Bench was occupied.
The favourite Lunch Bench was occupied.
November 24, 2025 at 3:54 PM
The November flower list ticked up to 240 with a Goat’s-beard at The Bay, where a farmer kindly led frisky cattle away from the footpath.
The favourite Lunch Bench was occupied.
The favourite Lunch Bench was occupied.