Loading search...
Beginners Botany in Sussex
Tour Code: GBR293A wonderful 5-day holiday in the beautiful South Downs National Park, where you will experience a fantastic array of wildflowers, led by an expert botanist.
£1,195
Highlights
Summary
This botany focused holiday is primarily aimed at beginners who wish to broaden their knowledge of wildflowers but would also provide an enjoyable trip for more experienced botanists. We will concentrate on heathland, woodland, chalk grassland and saltmarsh, where many species will be in full flower. Our experienced botanist, Paul Harmes, will guide you through the identification process of common and scarce species that inhabit these distinct habitat types. Highlights may include diminutive Frog and Musk Orchids, Round-headed Rampion, Bog Asphodel and Viper's Bugloss amongst many others. We will be based in the heart of the South Downs National Park in a lovely village pub in the beautiful village of East Dean, where we are perfectly situated to cover the various habitat types. The ancient chalk grasslands are home to over 20 species of butterfly and a wealth of downland bird species including Skylarks, Corn Buntings, Linnets, Common Buzzards and many warblers while heathlands hold Dartford Warblers, Woodlarks and Tree Pipits. The immersive landscapes are iconic and it will be an absolute joy to spend a few days in the deep heart of southern England at the height of summer.
- Explore four main habitat types: woodland, heathland, chalk grassland & saltmarsh
- Iconic landscapes
- Orchids may include Frog and Musk Orchid and Marsh Helleborine
- Chalk downland will be a blaze of colour
- A range of sundews and Bog Asphodel on heathland
- The 'Pride of Sussex' on ancient chalk grasslands
- Explore the rides of ancient Beech woods
- Led by a local and experienced botanist
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Accommodation:
Please note the accommodation for 2025 has changed. We will be staying at the Tiger Inn in East Dean, please refer to the tour itinerary for further details.
Dates & Prices
2025
Tour Leader: Paul Harmes
Paul has always lived in the south of England on the Downs near Brighton in East Sussex. Many of his early years were spent in exploring this area. His interest in the natural world gradually developed from about the age of eight and he began to take a special interest in plants, although reptiles and amphibians, mammals and insects are also a passion. Paul is a Fellow of the Linnean Society, an active member of the Sussex Botanical Recording Society and the Botanical Society of the British Isles, which he represents as the county recorder for East Sussex. In 2003, he took voluntary severance from the National Grid Company plc and started his own botanical and ecological survey company. Paul enjoys sharing his knowledge of the natural world with other like-minded and interested people.
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
Related articles
Jane Lawson wins second place in our 2022 Writing Competition with her account of joining our 'Beginners Botany in Sussex' holiday in July 2022.
