Sim Elliott
@sim-elliott.bsky.social
Amateur naturalist and eco-socialist, fascinated by the Sussex Downs & Weald, trying to engage everyone, especially disenfranchised groups, in nature. Only travel by bus, train & foot. https://simelliottnaturenotes.blog
Little on large. A tiny Mycena sp. mushroom growing on a huge ancient Sweet Chestnut. Fredville Park, Nonington, Kent.
December 7, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Little on large. A tiny Mycena sp. mushroom growing on a huge ancient Sweet Chestnut. Fredville Park, Nonington, Kent.
Hard to identify this as an ancient Yew, Taxus baccata, at first. It's shape is nothing like the Yews of its native strongholds: chalk scarp-face woodland. It's a pasture woodland Yew, sculpted by nibbling deer. Deer can tolerate Yew. Fredville Park, Kent; similar to the yews in Eridge deer park.
December 7, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Hard to identify this as an ancient Yew, Taxus baccata, at first. It's shape is nothing like the Yews of its native strongholds: chalk scarp-face woodland. It's a pasture woodland Yew, sculpted by nibbling deer. Deer can tolerate Yew. Fredville Park, Kent; similar to the yews in Eridge deer park.
The extraordinary 17th century avenue of Sweet Chestnuts in Fredville Park. Park owned by the Plumptres since 18th century; the Boys between 1485 and C18; and part of the manor of Essewelle in Doomsday Book, from 1066 to 1485. Presumably a Medieval deer park then an ornamental park, nr. Dover, Kent
December 7, 2025 at 3:15 AM
The extraordinary 17th century avenue of Sweet Chestnuts in Fredville Park. Park owned by the Plumptres since 18th century; the Boys between 1485 and C18; and part of the manor of Essewelle in Doomsday Book, from 1066 to 1485. Presumably a Medieval deer park then an ornamental park, nr. Dover, Kent
The literature on Fredville Park, Nonington, Kent, focuses on its Pedunculate Oak & Sweet Chestnuts; and doesn't mention its Oriental Planes, but they are one of the most striking features of its landscape with their unusual habit. Perhaps Oriental Plane is a bit too foreign for Kent!
December 7, 2025 at 3:10 AM
The literature on Fredville Park, Nonington, Kent, focuses on its Pedunculate Oak & Sweet Chestnuts; and doesn't mention its Oriental Planes, but they are one of the most striking features of its landscape with their unusual habit. Perhaps Oriental Plane is a bit too foreign for Kent!
Hypholoma fasciculare, Ptychostomum capillare, Grimmia pulvinata, and unidentified lichens, on fallen Sweet Chestnut. Fredville Park, Nonington, Kent.
December 6, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Hypholoma fasciculare, Ptychostomum capillare, Grimmia pulvinata, and unidentified lichens, on fallen Sweet Chestnut. Fredville Park, Nonington, Kent.
The designer of the human-pig hybrids, created by the Cult of Skaro (a group of four unique Daleks) in the two-part Dr Who story "Daleks in Manhattan" (2007), must have seen this little medieval chap above the South West door of Canterbury Cathedral.
December 6, 2025 at 6:20 PM
The designer of the human-pig hybrids, created by the Cult of Skaro (a group of four unique Daleks) in the two-part Dr Who story "Daleks in Manhattan" (2007), must have seen this little medieval chap above the South West door of Canterbury Cathedral.
Harmonia axyridis forma spectabilis, melanistic Harlequin Ladybird, on Ganoderma adspersum, Southern Bracket, on Casteana sativa, Sweet Chestnut, in Fredville Park. Recent to Britain. Voracious appetite; eats aphids and native ladybirds which pose a serious threat to all of Britain’s Coccinellidae.
December 6, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Harmonia axyridis forma spectabilis, melanistic Harlequin Ladybird, on Ganoderma adspersum, Southern Bracket, on Casteana sativa, Sweet Chestnut, in Fredville Park. Recent to Britain. Voracious appetite; eats aphids and native ladybirds which pose a serious threat to all of Britain’s Coccinellidae.
Veteran Yew, Oriental Plane and Pedunculate Oak at Fredville Park, Nonington, Kent. Lovely.
December 6, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Veteran Yew, Oriental Plane and Pedunculate Oak at Fredville Park, Nonington, Kent. Lovely.
Snowdown Colliery Kent. Miners on strike in 1984-85 were sent food from Brighton T Unions. The strikers knew they were fighting the ruling class who wanted to close the pit. In 2025 a merchant banker has persuaded many working ppl in Kent that their enemy is migrants; but its still the ruling class.
December 6, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Snowdown Colliery Kent. Miners on strike in 1984-85 were sent food from Brighton T Unions. The strikers knew they were fighting the ruling class who wanted to close the pit. In 2025 a merchant banker has persuaded many working ppl in Kent that their enemy is migrants; but its still the ruling class.
A few foliate heads from Canterbury Cathedral today.
December 6, 2025 at 5:05 PM
A few foliate heads from Canterbury Cathedral today.
Some of the monumental Pedunculate Oak in Fredville Park, Nonington, Kent. Pedunculate Oak, Quercus robur, is native to all of Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. So its common name "English Oak" is not accurate.
December 6, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Some of the monumental Pedunculate Oak in Fredville Park, Nonington, Kent. Pedunculate Oak, Quercus robur, is native to all of Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. So its common name "English Oak" is not accurate.
There is something triffid-like and sinister about Mullein rosettes in winter. I often forget that I have Poland & Clement 2020 The Vegetative Key to the British Flora. But it's jolly useful in winter. This keys out as Verbascum thapsus, Great Mullein, probably! @bsbibotany.bsky.social
December 2, 2025 at 6:02 PM
There is something triffid-like and sinister about Mullein rosettes in winter. I often forget that I have Poland & Clement 2020 The Vegetative Key to the British Flora. But it's jolly useful in winter. This keys out as Verbascum thapsus, Great Mullein, probably! @bsbibotany.bsky.social
I watched this kestrel attempt to hunt yesterday. The wind gusts (recorded at 50mph) were so strong on the Trundle that no amount of wing & tail feather adjustment allowed it to windhover in a geostationary position. So he/she gave up and sat in a tree until the wind speed had dropped. #birds 🪶
December 2, 2025 at 8:59 AM
I watched this kestrel attempt to hunt yesterday. The wind gusts (recorded at 50mph) were so strong on the Trundle that no amount of wing & tail feather adjustment allowed it to windhover in a geostationary position. So he/she gave up and sat in a tree until the wind speed had dropped. #birds 🪶
This is the River Lavant in West Dean & East Lavant; one of only 300 chalk streams in the world. It's a winterbourne (a river which only runs when the water table is high enough in winter). It is winter; no water. Despite the high rainfall last month, we had drought conditions for most of this year
December 2, 2025 at 8:46 AM
This is the River Lavant in West Dean & East Lavant; one of only 300 chalk streams in the world. It's a winterbourne (a river which only runs when the water table is high enough in winter). It is winter; no water. Despite the high rainfall last month, we had drought conditions for most of this year
There were so many things in the countryside of West Sussex that were hidden to me today by signs, doors, gates and walls: we need a right to roam. @righttoroam.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 10:00 PM
There were so many things in the countryside of West Sussex that were hidden to me today by signs, doors, gates and walls: we need a right to roam. @righttoroam.bsky.social
It was so windy on St Roche's Hill it was hard getting a good focused image of moving leaves with very low levels of light. So I went with it, put my camera on shutter speed priority mode and turned speed down so I got movement but not sharp focus. I enjoyed experimenting.
December 1, 2025 at 9:54 PM
It was so windy on St Roche's Hill it was hard getting a good focused image of moving leaves with very low levels of light. So I went with it, put my camera on shutter speed priority mode and turned speed down so I got movement but not sharp focus. I enjoyed experimenting.
Saw a Richard Long exhibition at Tate Modern yesterday. Inspired, I made some "land art" on Chalkpit Lane, going up to St Roche's Hill today. I see Long's art as a rural version Dada's urban "readymades", objects trouvés. Pick up random found objects and rearrange them.
December 1, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Saw a Richard Long exhibition at Tate Modern yesterday. Inspired, I made some "land art" on Chalkpit Lane, going up to St Roche's Hill today. I see Long's art as a rural version Dada's urban "readymades", objects trouvés. Pick up random found objects and rearrange them.
Epiphytic Polypody is rare in Sussex. When I see it, its typically on Pedunculate Oak or Elder. This is the first time I have seen it on Beech. Westfield Plantation, West Dean, West Sussex. Ancient dip-slope woodland with Yew, Ash and Ha el.
December 1, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Epiphytic Polypody is rare in Sussex. When I see it, its typically on Pedunculate Oak or Elder. This is the first time I have seen it on Beech. Westfield Plantation, West Dean, West Sussex. Ancient dip-slope woodland with Yew, Ash and Ha el.
Lots of lovely Juniper on Hayes Down, western South Downs near Goodwood. Juniper loves chalk; but its still declining in the south.
December 1, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Lots of lovely Juniper on Hayes Down, western South Downs near Goodwood. Juniper loves chalk; but its still declining in the south.
Butchers Broom - such a weird plant - in such a weird place! In the Devil’s Ditch; a late Iron Age bank & ditch, Stane Street end. The name of the entrenchment is derived from Sussex folklore, which holds that it was the work of the devil in an attempt to let in the sea to flood the Sussex churches.
November 28, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Butchers Broom - such a weird plant - in such a weird place! In the Devil’s Ditch; a late Iron Age bank & ditch, Stane Street end. The name of the entrenchment is derived from Sussex folklore, which holds that it was the work of the devil in an attempt to let in the sea to flood the Sussex churches.
Ingaderia vandenboomii is a "Nationally Scarce" lichen; but it is not that scarce on the north walls of old (mostly Saxo-Norman) coastal churces in Sussex. Here at the Priory Church of Saint Mary and Saint Blaise. It's pink thallus is C+ red immediately. The green is Diploicia canescens. #lichenGBI
November 28, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Ingaderia vandenboomii is a "Nationally Scarce" lichen; but it is not that scarce on the north walls of old (mostly Saxo-Norman) coastal churces in Sussex. Here at the Priory Church of Saint Mary and Saint Blaise. It's pink thallus is C+ red immediately. The green is Diploicia canescens. #lichenGBI
6th Lord of the Manor of Halnaker, De La Warr's, burial chantry 1532. Gothic / Renaissance carving with motifs taken from a French Book of Hours, in the 12th century Priory Church of St Mary and St Blaise; a relict of Boxgrove Priory. Absolutely magical.
November 28, 2025 at 4:41 PM
6th Lord of the Manor of Halnaker, De La Warr's, burial chantry 1532. Gothic / Renaissance carving with motifs taken from a French Book of Hours, in the 12th century Priory Church of St Mary and St Blaise; a relict of Boxgrove Priory. Absolutely magical.
One minute you are dignified heraldic greyhounds - from the Duke of Richmond's arms, the lords of Goodwood, next minute you're dressed as reindeer! Goodwood.
November 28, 2025 at 3:54 PM
One minute you are dignified heraldic greyhounds - from the Duke of Richmond's arms, the lords of Goodwood, next minute you're dressed as reindeer! Goodwood.
The most impressive thing about Halnaker is not the hollow way (Halnaker Tree Tunnel) but the superb Halnaker parkland Ancient Sweet Chestnuts in a medieval deer park. A huge number of ancient trees - all on private land.
November 28, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The most impressive thing about Halnaker is not the hollow way (Halnaker Tree Tunnel) but the superb Halnaker parkland Ancient Sweet Chestnuts in a medieval deer park. A huge number of ancient trees - all on private land.
As I have said before, if you want to see huge Pedunculate Oak, Quercus robur, in the Low Weald of Sussex, look at hedgerows, shaws and trees left in asserts (land converted from woodland to arable or pasture); better than the Oaks of ancient woodlands. Round Chailey, East Susssx.
November 26, 2025 at 10:53 PM
As I have said before, if you want to see huge Pedunculate Oak, Quercus robur, in the Low Weald of Sussex, look at hedgerows, shaws and trees left in asserts (land converted from woodland to arable or pasture); better than the Oaks of ancient woodlands. Round Chailey, East Susssx.