Spring primroses at the side of the Cuckoo trail, near Horam, East Sussex, UK
The Cuckoo Line in East Sussex, UK is an 11 mile track for the use of walkers, cyclists and horse riders. It was previously part of the railway which ran from Polegate to Eridge. The line was opened in 1880 and closed in 1968 as part of the railway closures overseen by Dr Beeching. The trail gets its name from the association between the town of Heathfield and the first cuckoo of spring to be heard in the area. It was traditionally believed that cuckoos would return to the region for the summer at the time of the fair. At the fair an old lady, Dame Heffle, would release a captive cuckoo to signify the return of summer. Primroses thrive on the heavy clay soils of the Sussex Weald and can be seen in profusion in spring on the upper sections of the trail.
Size: 5600px × 3719px
Location: The Cuckoo Trail, near Horam, East Sussex, UK
Photo credit: © Brian Hartshorn / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: beeching, closures, cuckoo, cyclists, disused, dr., east, fair, heathfield, heffle, horam, horse, latin, primrose, primroses, primula, rail, railway, riders, sussex, vulgaris, walkers
