Field Meeting

Leader: Matt Bramich (Reserve Manager) Seventeen members explored this new venue, once known for fen plants until scrub invaded with lack of grazing. Water percolates downhill, seeping out between Bargate Beds and Sandgate Beds.The valley bottom has five bays where contractors have removed scrub and excavated scrapes, all to encourage the return of a rich […]

Leader: Fiona Haynes (Reserve Manager: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust) The only butterfly seen was Common Blue, but with entomologist Scotty Dodd present with his sweep-net, many other creatures were identified. Notable were Tortoise Bug, Common Striped Woodlouse, Roesel’s Cricket, a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Heath Snail and Hairy Snail and a Wasp Spider. Flowering […]

Leader: Rob Eadie (Volunteer Reserve Manager) Managed by Sussex Wildlife Trust, this site has chalk grassland, chalk heathland and an important Juniper colony.Butterflies were few but the flowering plants were of interest: Small Scabious, Clustered and Nettle-leaved Bellflower, Round-headed Rampion, Squinancywort, Eyebright, Marjoram, the parasite Dodder with small white flowers and Autumn Ladies Tresses Orchid.Remarkable […]

The weather was poor (dull, overcast and a fair breeze) for finding butterflies; only 6 species in low numbers. 2024 is being reported everywhere as a poor year.However, the flowers on the chalk downland were superb. To name a few: Field Scabious, Wild Marjoram, Meadow Cranesbill, Pyramidal Orchid, Greater Knapweed, Dark Mullein and Red Bartsia.Interesting […]

Leader: Margaret Hibbard (HNHS member) The weather (dull, overcast with a fair breeze) was not conducive to fulfil the aim of finding butterflies. Only six species were seen and these were in low numbers.  The summer of 2024 is reported everywhere as being very poor for butterflies. However, on this chalk downland (managed by Hampshire […]

Leader:  Anne Dennig (Owner and Founder Member of Botany Bay Community Interest Group) and friends Greta and Matthew Formerly a small trout fishery, Anne formed Botany Bay Conservancy Community Interest Group over 10 years ago to transform the area with a wooded ravine into a private reserve of amazing biodiversity. Now wild Brown Trout have […]

Leaders: Margaret Tomsett and Andy Swan (HNHS members) In a disappointing summer for weather, we would have been lucky to find a really good night for moths. Light traps were set up in a Killinghurst garden in the evening of a fair day, but during the night the sky cleared and the temperature dropped to […]

Leader: Arthur Greenwood (Entomologist) It was not until late morning, in sunny conditions, that Small Heath and the hoped-for Silver-studded Blue butterflies were seen.  Arthur has recorded butterflies there since 2010 and noted that on June 25th 2023 he had counted 240 Silver-studded Blue.  This year recently it had been cold and wet so holding […]

Leader: Paul Nevett (HNHS member) A fairly early start of 8.30am on a beautiful May morning, proved ideal for hearing not only 8 Nightingales but Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and Blackcaps too.  Male Nightingales arrive in mid to late April and sing to establish a territory and to attract a female.

Leader: Alan Perry (HNHS member and Emeritus President of Sussex Ornithological Society) 28 bird species were located by 13 members on this SSSI site (south of Petworth) of 95acres of dry and wet heath, acid grass and woodland. Three notable heathland species were seen: Woodlark frequently singing and tumbling in their display flight, Stonechat males […]