Report from the drought

Itis now around seven weeks since we had any rain and the countryside is increasingly drying up.  In the lane outside there are places where only a few of the deeper rooted plants remain green.

These are mostly tufts of grass, but there is also smooth hawksbeard with the yellow flowers on the right, wood dock, greater plantain, pineapple weed and other species.  Along the middle of the lane all the grass has died (but may recover when rain arrives) leaving only the green and rather wilted rosettes of dandelions.

On one walk I came across a fine slow worm crossing the lane and heading for the shade.

Churchland Fields on the western side of the lane are very brown and dry but some plants like creeping thistle and knapweed do not seem to be suffering.  In the picture below looking across to Sedlescombe church, as well as the brown grass and thistle there is a flourishing patch of yellow common fleabane in full flower: the whole makes a subtle pattern of buffs, greens, mauves, whites and yellows bordered by dark summer woods and hedges.