Sim Elliott
The Mens Nature Reserve, West Sussex: Trees, Landscape, Bryophytes, Lichens and Fungi. 20.02.23
The Mens is an extraordinary landscape; it is a nature reserve maintained by the Sussex Wildlife Trust. The unusual name ... comes from...
top of page
= Sim Elliott =
Nature Writing and Photography:
records of nature journeys made by public transport.
Sim Elliott
- Feb 16
- 7 min
Kingley Vale: Yews, Epiphytes, Fungi and The Devil's Humps. 11.02.23
Kingley Vale is a National Nature Reserve famous for its historic Yews. I visit Kingley Vale regularly. Its yews, other trees, and short...
23 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Feb 15
- 4 min
Fairlight Glen; a ghyll wood and its bryophytes. Hastings Country Park. 07 & 10.02.23
I visited Fairlight Glen twice in one week in order to explore it's bryophytes. My initial motivation was to see if I could find...
20 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Jan 31
- 10 min
Lichen, Bryophytes & Fungi. Marline Valley Nature Reserve, Hastings. 31.01.22
Marline Valley is a wonderful mix of semi-natural ancient woodland, unimproved meadows and a classic Sussex ghyll stream situated on the...
17 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Jan 26
- 4 min
Lichens, Bryophytes, Fungi and Birds. Waterhall Nature Reserve & The Devil's Dyke. 23.01.23
Over the weekend a local lichenologist saw a String of Sausages, Usnea aticulata, following a fellow member of the British Lichen Society...
27 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Jan 21
- 3 min
Eridge Rocks: A wonderland of lichen, fungi, moss, liverworts and slime moulds. 04.01.23
This was the second time I have visited Eridge Rocks. It is easy to get to by bus from Brighton; take the 29 29 - Brighton-Tunbridge...
19 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Jan 20
- 5 min
Eridge Park (SSSI) East Sussex; Lichen, Bryophytes, Fungi and Landscape. 23.12.22
Eridge Park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, to the east of Eridge Green Rock, south of Tunbridge Wells. The landscape is shaped...
42 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Dec 11, 2022
- 1 min
Winter Suite: the species and landscape of Seaford Head and Cuckmere Haven at dusk. 08.12.22
I took the 12 bus from Brighton to Seaford Library, then walked to the beach and walked over Seaford Head Seaford Head | Sussex Wildlife...
14 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Dec 9, 2022
- 3 min
Markstakes Common & Chailey Commons. Tress, Fungi, Bryophytes, Lichen and Slime Molds. 06.12.22
I visited Markstakes Common, South Chailey (a Woodland Trust site) (not one of the 5 Chailey Commons) for the first time on 06.11.22, I...
16 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Dec 7, 2022
- 8 min
Church Wood LNR & Marline Valley NR, Hastings. Woods, Ghylls, Fungi, Lichen & Bryophytes. 05.12.22
I reached Church Wood from Brighton by getting a train to Hasting Station and then the 20 bus to the bus stop on Tile Barn Road, close to...
26 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Nov 30, 2022
- 3 min
Golden Eye Lichen, Teloschistes chrysophthalmus. Malling Down. 29.11.22
I saw this beautiful lichen today in a Hawthorne tree at Malling Down Nature Reserve, Sussex Wildlife Trust Malling Down | Sussex...
21 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Nov 29, 2022
- 5 min
Hargate Forest & Tunbridge Wells Common: Rocks, Fungi, Lichen & Bryophytes 28.11.22
Hargate Forest is just south of Tunbridge Wells. I reached the forest by the 29 bus from Brighton. Alight the bus at the Broadwater Down...
13 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Nov 27, 2022
- 3 min
Harrison Rocks/Birchden Wood. Fungi, Lichen, Moss, Liverworts & Slime Mold. 26.11.22
Harrison Rocks (British Mountaineering Council are the western edge of Birchden Wood (Forestry England); which is west of Eridge (East...
8 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Nov 27, 2022
- 7 min
Lake Wood, Uckfield. A "Picturesque" landscape. Trees, Rocks, Lichen & Bryophytes. 22.11.22
Lake Wood, a Woodlands Trust wood Lake Wood - Visiting Woods - Woodland Trust, is a short walk from the centre of Uckfield. It is an...
64 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Nov 21, 2022
- 16 min
Rocks, Trees, Fungi, Lichen, Bryophytes & Slime Molds. Eridge Rocks NR & Broadwater Warren. 19.11.22
I visited Eridge Rocks Nature Reserve (Sussex Wildlife Trust), because I knew it was a site of special scientific interest for lichen and...
33 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Nov 15, 2022
- 6 min
Fungi, Lichen & Bryophytes at Tilgate Park and Tilgate Forest. 11.11.22
Tilgate Park I know quite well; it has marvellous collection of non-native trees, as well as native broadleaf tress. Tilgate Forest I had...
26 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Nov 10, 2022
- 11 min
Fungi at Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens. 08.11.22
I visited Leornardslee Lakes and Garden to see the wallabies, deer, the beautiful colours of its autumn trees, and its fungi....
15 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Nov 6, 2022
- 3 min
Fungi, Lichen, Bryophytes & Birds. Park Wood. Hellingly. 05.11.22
Park Wood is a wood of mixed ancient trees owned by the Environment Agency, with Hornbeam, Oak, Birch and Ash and some coniferous trees...
20 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Nov 1, 2022
- 6 min
Fungi, Lichen & Bryophytes. Stanmer Great Wood. 31.10.22
I returned to Stanmer Great Wood on Monday, after my journey there on Friday 28.10.22 Stanmer Great Wood is on the north-east of...
16 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Nov 1, 2022
- 4 min
A community of fungi and bryophytes in a dead Beech tree, Stanmer Great Wood, 31.10.22
I found this dead Beech, Fagus sylvatica (?) yesterday in Stanmer Great Wood, Brighton; just south of the Upper Lodges car park (although...
27 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Oct 31, 2022
- 4 min
Fungi in Stanmer Great Wood. 28.10.22
Stanmer Great Wood is on the north-east of Brighton. It can be reached very easily by the 25 bus which is very frequent.; see: 25 -...
7 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Oct 26, 2022
- 7 min
24.10.22/2. A Crimson-Speckled Moth & Fungi, Lullington Heath National Nature Reserve.
I visited Friston Forest and Lullington Heath National Nature Reserve with a focus on observing fungi. Since starting reading Merlin...
41 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Oct 25, 2022
- 3 min
24.10.22/1. Birds, Wildflowers, Fungi and a Bumblebee, Friston Forest.
I decided to walk though Friston Forest to see what Fungi were fruiting, as the autumn is one of the best times to see fruiting fungi;...
8 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Oct 22, 2022
- 1 min
Fungi in the Forest; The Vanguard Way, Ashdown Forest, Forest Row. 22.10.22
I reached Forest Row by train and bus. I took the train from Brighton to Three Bridges (35 minutes, frequent trains). From outside Three...
3 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Oct 16, 2022
- 2 min
RSPB Rye Meads, Hertfordshire. A Snipe and a Kingfisher. 15.10.22
I took the train to Rye House railway station (from London Liverpool Street Station, a 36 minute trip, trains every 30 minutes. I took...
8 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Oct 16, 2022
- 3 min
Birds at Farlington Marshes NR, Langstone Harbour. Brent Geeses and winter Ducks & Waders. 12.10.22
Farlington Marshes, at the top of Langstone Harbour, is a reserve I like to visit in Winter as it is a superb place to see overwintering...
45 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Oct 7, 2022
- 2 min
Birds at RSPB Pagham Harbour. 03.10.22
I went to RSPB Pagham Harbour again, as I love Pagham Harbour. As usual I travelled to the reserve by train and bus. I took the train...
11 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Oct 3, 2022
- 5 min
My Public Transport (Low Carbon) Butterfly Year 2022. Thirty-Seven Species by foot, bus and train.
My Public Transport (Low Carbon) Butterfly Year 2022, from an Orange Tip in April to mating Long Tailed Blues in August. This Butterfly...
10 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Sep 30, 2022
- 2 min
Birds and Dragonflies. RSPB Pagham Harbour 24.09.22 (pm) & 26.09.22 (am)
I went to RSPB Pagham Harbour, a place I have visited many times before, by train and bus on the afternoon of Saturday 24.09.22 and the...
5 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Sep 28, 2022
- 2 min
Butterflies and Birds, Beachy Head & Birling Gap. 19.09.22
I took the 12 bus from Brighton to Eastbourne. You can catch the 12, 12A (slower) or 12X (fastest) to Eastbourne. They run frequently...
6 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Sep 15, 2022
- 3 min
Autumn Colours: Wild flowers, Woods and Insects. Box Hill. 12.09.22
On Monday 12.09.22 I took the opportunity of a sunny day to visit Box Hill. I thought I may see a few September butterflies; but I only...
14 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Sep 12, 2022
- 6 min
The Wriothesley Monuments at Titchfield. Green Sandpipers & a Whinchat at Titchfield Haven 10.09.22
I go to Titchfield Haven every few months; as it is such a great site for birds. Titchfield Haven is a National Nature Reserve manged by...
43 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Sep 8, 2022
- 3 min
An afternoon at RSPB Pagham Harbour: a Lizard, Curlew Sandpipers and Cattle Egret. 06.09.22
I went to RSPB Pagham Harbour, a place I have visited many times before, by train and bus. I took the train from Brighton to Chichester...
30 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Sep 2, 2022
- 4 min
Butterflies & Moths at Steyning Downland Scheme and Autumn Ladies Tresses at Anchor Bottom. 01.09.22
In the afternoon of Thursday 01.09.22, I went to Steyning Downland Scheme as I had heard on social media that there were quite e few Pied...
33 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Aug 31, 2022
- 3 min
Birds, Butterflies and Wild Flowers at Warnham NR and RSPB Pulborough Brooks. 30.08.22
Warnham Nature Reserve is relatively easy to get to by public transport, as long as you don't mind a one mile walk from Horsham Station;...
18 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Aug 25, 2022
- 5 min
Mating Long-Tailed Blue Butterflies. Brighton. 25.08.22
I am not going to reveal the exact location in Brighton of this sighting; but if you are a butterfly enthusiast you'll know where this...
74 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Aug 24, 2022
- 5 min
Butterflies on Newtimber Hill and The Devil's Dyke. 23.08.22
On Tuesday 23.08.22 I met with another member of the Gay Birders Club for a local GBC meet-up. We went to Newtimber Hill and the Devil's...
25 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Aug 23, 2022
- 2 min
Whitehawk Hill and then a walk from Crowlink to Beachy Head; Birds, Butterflies & Views. 20.08.22
My plan for the day was to pop up to Whitehawk Hill to see if I could see the Long Tail Blues there, and then walk to the seafront and...
29 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Aug 19, 2022
- 1 min
An afternoon walk at the Devil's Dyke. Butterflies and Birds. 18.08.22.
On Friday 18th August I took the 77 bus to the Devil's Dyke for an afternoon walk. It was sunny but quite windy. In my three hour walk I...
8 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Aug 17, 2022
- 2 min
Butterflies at Friston Gallops, Friston Forest. 16.08.22
On Thursday I went on a trip with friends to Friston Gallops (above Butchershole Bottom) in the Friston Forest near Jevington; it is well...
10 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Aug 13, 2022
- 1 min
Butterflies at Bevendean Down NR; a short morning walk. 11.08.22
On Thursday 11.08.22 I walked from my house to Bevendean Down from my house. I arrived at Bevendean at 8.00 am and I walked back at home...
6 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Aug 10, 2022
- 3 min
Box Hill - Juniper Top. Silver-Spotted Skippers & Silver-Washed Fritillaries. 08.08.22
I got to Box Hill by train; travelling from Brighton to Box Hill and Westhumble station (changing at Three Bridges and Horsham). I...
30 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Aug 7, 2022
- 5 min
Butterflies & Birds at Hutchinson Bank, New Addington & Reigate Hill. 06.08.22
On Saturday 06.08.22 I visited two locations that were new to me. They are both areas of North Downs escarpment; and they are both know...
49 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Aug 6, 2022
- 3 min
Butterflies, Wild Flowers & Birds at the Steyning Downland Scheme 04.08.22
On Thursday 04.08.22 I visited the wonderful Steyning Downland Scheme. It is very easy to get there by public transport. I got the 2 bus,...
15 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Aug 3, 2022
- 4 min
The Landscape, Flora & Fauna of Lower Greensand and Chalk; Leith Hill to Ranmoor Common. 02.08.22
On Tuesday 2nd August I visited Leith Hill for the first time since I was a teenager, when I issued to go with my parents and...
28 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Aug 2, 2022
- 1 min
Mill Hill, Anchor Bottom and Devil's Dyke. Butterflies. Silver-Spotted Skippers. 30.07.22
On Saturday I took the 2 bus to Shoreham and walked up to Mill Hill, and then on to Anchor Bottom. I took the 2 bus back from Dace...
14 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Jul 31, 2022
- 1 min
Steyning Downland Scheme. 17 species of Butterflies, 3 Moths, 1 Grasshopper, and a Leaf! 28.07.22
Steyning Downland Scheme is a marvellous project at promoting Butterfly diversity. For further information see Home | Steyning Downland...
14 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Jul 27, 2022
- 3 min
Bumblebee Surveying & Birding at Rye Harbour. Nesting Common Terns & a Curlew Sandpiper. 26.07.22
The primary purpose of this visit to Dungeness was bumblebee surveying, aa part of my role as a volunteer with the Bumblebee Conservation...
4 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Jul 23, 2022
- 3 min
Birds and Butterflies. Seaford Head and Cuckmere Haven. 22.07.22
The walk from Seaford via Seaford Head Nature Reserve (Sussex Wildlife Trust) and Cuckmere Haven (Cuckmere Valley) (National Trust) to...
108 views0 comments
Sim Elliott
- Jul 20, 2022
- 3 min
Park Corner Heath/Roland Wood & Lewes Railway Land NRs. The hottest UK day on record. 19.07.22
On what was predicted to be the hottest day on reduced, and was, I decided to visit two reserves that were mostly woodland so that I...
7 views0 comments
Instagram Stream
bottom of page