This is the combined Events Programme for 2008 of Sussex Butterfly Conservation and Sussex Moth Group. Events are open to members and non-members, and are free. Please watch out for events that require pre-booking. For further information, please contact Karen Pritty at trips "AT" sussex-butterflies.org.uk

• Transport: If you need or can offer a lift to any of our events please email the field trip organiser who will attempt to put you in touch with each other to reduce our carbon footprint! Public transport may be available to some events – try www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk for information.

• Future field trips: If you have any ideas for future trips or would like to lead one to your favourite site the field trip organiser would like to hear from you! Karen Pritty

Gone: Friday 25th January 2008: Sussex Butterfly Conservation 40th Anniversary QUIZ NIGHT

Gone: Sat 23 February 2008: Sussex BC at Adastra Biological Recorders Seminar

Gone: Sun 9 March 2008: Brimstones, Bacon and Bow-saws

Gone: Sat 15 March 2008: Spring Social

Gone: Thurs 27 March. Butterfly Conservation. Public Meeting, Beckley Village Hall.

Gone: Sat 5 April. SMG Mill Hill

Gone: Fri 25 April 2008: Bedelands farm

Gone: Sat 26 April: Brede High Woods

Gone: Mon 28 April: SMG AGM

Gone: Sat 10 May: Weights Wood

Gone: Sun 11 May: Heyshott Down

Gone: Sat 17 May: The Mens

Gone: Sat 17 May: Night of the Living Grayling

Gone: Sat 24 May: Rother Woods Project launch

Gone: Sat 24 May: SMG Bedelands Farm

Gone: Sat 31 May: SMG Leechpool & Owlbeech

Gone: Sat 31 May, SMG Icklesham

Gone: Sun 1 Jun: Park Corner Heath Open Day

Gone: Fri 6 Jun: SMG The Mens

Gone: Sat 7 Jun: National Moth Night events at Lewes, Great Dixter, Park Corner Heath

Gone: Sun 8 Jun: National Moth Night - The Morning After at Park Corner Heath and Great Dixter

Gone: Sun 15 Jun: Springhead Hill

Gone: Fri 20 Jun: Great Dixter

Gone: Sun 22 Jun: Littlehampton Bridge

Gone: Sat 28 June SMG Stedham Common

Gone: Sun 29 Jun: Kingstanding

Gone: Sat 5 Jul: Brede High Woods

Gone: Sun 6 Jul: Southwater Woods

Gone: Sun 13 Jul: Pickwell

MOTHS Friday 18 July Night: 8.30pm. Sussex Moth Group. Memorial Common, Chailey Common Meet at the sports pavilion car park at TQ389209  Target: Heathland species. Leader: Karen Pritty

MOTHS Saturday 19 July Day: 10am. Sussex Moth Group. Memorial Common, Chailey Common Meet as above. Come and see what was caught in the traps last night as they get emptied.  Target: Heathland species. Leader: Karen Pritty

BUTTERFLIES Saturday 19 July and Sunday 20 July 2008. Sheffield Park - launch of Save Our Butterflies Week. 10.30am – 3.30pm. Garden Parties. Grid Ref TQ 414239. Park in visitor car park, east off A275 between North Chailey and Danehill. Meet in the marquee inside the main gate for guided hourly butterfly and moth walks, displays & moth trap. Usual National Trust prices apply. Leader(s) Arthur McCulloch Phone Nos 01444 831664. Target Species Summer meadow and woodland butterflies and moths. Children welcome with accompanying adult. Sorry, no dogs. Terrain Gentle slopes, some uneven ground Distance 3 km (2 miles).

BUTTERFLIES Saturday 19 July 11am Farm Butterfly Walk, Swallowtail Farm, Hobbs Lane, Beckley (TQ864249). A free guided walk around a wonderful farm, including meadows, green lanes, ponds and ancient woodland. There’s the potential to see lots of wonderful butterflies and other wildlife. Families Welcome. Booking essential. Sorry no dogs

BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS: Friday 25 July, 10:30 am. Save Our Butterflies Week: The Butterflies & Moths of Friston Forest. Butchershole Bottom, East side of Friston Forest. (TV 555994). Turn off the A259 at Friston Pond and head North on the Jevington Road. Or turn south at Polegate and head south past Jevington Park in the 'Butchers Hole' Forestry Commission car-park. A walk around The Gallops area of the forest famous for its butterflies followed by tea, biscuits and moth-trap opening at Friston Place. Targets: Blues, Fritillaries, Skippers & Hawkmoths. Children welcome. Dogs allowed. Terrain: Steep at times; sturdy footwear required. Duration: Approx 2 hours. Leader: Michael Blencowe. Phone No: 01323 423711 Email: sussexgrayling@aol.com Event: 

MOTHS Saturday 26 July, 8.30pm.  Sussex Moth Group. Rye Harbour Meet at the entrance to the reserve which is well signposted off the A 259 at TQ 943 191. Target: Cynaeda dentalis & Archers Dart. Leader: Keith Alexander

BUTTERFLIES Sunday 27 July 2008 Steyning Downland Scheme Area (Rifle Range and Lower Horseshoe) 11am. Grid Ref TQ173113. Meet at the entrance to the playing fields, opposite the fire station. Leader(s) Neil Hulme. Phone No 01903 889941. Email nh@nhulme.eclipse.co.uk. Target Species Wall Brown, Chalkhill Blue, Marbled White, Brown Argus. Children welcome with accompanying adult. Dogs allowed. Terrain Relatively gentle ascent with one short, steeper climb. Distance 2.5 km (1.5 miles). Open to all with an interest in either Butterfly Conservation or the Steyning Downland Scheme.

MOTHS Friday 1 Aug, 8.15pm. Sussex Moth Group. Castle Hill, Newhaven - Lewes DC run Nature Reserve (NOT WOODINGDEAN!!!) Meet at TQ448002  Target: Possibly Toadflax Brocade (you never know). Leader: Stephen Teale

BUTTERFLIES Sunday 3 August 2008 Grayling Festival “Way Out West” Weavers Down, nr Rake 10am Grid Ref SU814282. Meet at Chapel Common Car Park on the north side of the B2070. Leader Michael Blencowe. Phone No 01323 423711. Email sussexgrayling@aol.com. Event . A full day of fieldwork searching for the Grayling in the hills of Weavers Down in the morning and other West Sussex sites in the afternoon. Booking for this event is essential; contact leader. In the afternoon we will boldly seek out some new Grayling territory in W.Sussex. Picnic and ginger beer included of course. Targets Grayling; Silver-studded Blue. Children welcome with accompanying adult. Dogs allowed. Terrain Moderate. Distance 3 km (2 miles).

MOTHS Saturday 9 Aug, 7.30pm. Sussex Moth Group. Knepp Estate, West Grinstead Meet at the estate entrance gate just off A24 at TQ164212. This site is now having help from Sussex Wildlife Trust to manage the extensive estate including the Knepp Millpond.  Target: Rush Wainscot. Leader: Malcolm Stevens

BUTTERFLIES Saturday 9 Aug 2008: Long Men and White Horses

A full day surveying for Grayling in East Sussex . I'm hoping to give Windover Hill a FULL search to estimate the colony size there while other teams head off to check the slopes of Mount Caburn, Frog Firle, Lullington Heath and elsewhere in a co-ordinated assault. Then in the evening I'm planning to invite everyone back to mine at Friston for some cider, barbeque and a moth trap. Michael Blencowe

 

BUTTERFLIES Saturday 16 August 2008 Woodland Butterfly Walk and Picnic, Brede High Woods (off the B2089, TQ804205). 11am. Meet at the car park for a circular guided walk through this wonderful wood owned by the Woodland Trust. We’ll look out for butterflies and stop for lunch in a hidden meadow. Bring a picnic. Families Welcome. Booking essential. Sorry no dogs

 

BUTTERFLIES Saturday 16 August 2008. Chantry/Kithurst Hill. 11.30am. Grid Ref: TQ087120. Meet at Chantry Post car park. Leader(s): Neil Hulme Phone No: 01903 889941 Email: nh@nhulme.eclipse.co.uk. Target Species: Silver-spotted Skipper, Adonis Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Brown Argus, Clouded Yellow. Children welcome. Dogs allowed. Terrain: Flat walk with optional scrambling over some steeper banks. Distance: 1.5 kms. Special Conditions: Bring picnic lunch as majority of time to be spent in one location, with panoramic views over Sussex.

 

BUTTERFLIES Sunday 17 Aug: Down in the Dean

By now, I should be a complete expert on the Grayling in Sussex so will lead a walk to show people the species at its Windover Hill stronghold. More details to follow. Michael Blencowe

 

BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS: Wednesday 20th August, 11:00 - 4:00 Wildlife Wednesdays Children's Event at Michelham Priory (Upper Dicker: 2 miles W of Hailsham and 8 miles NW of Eastbourne) Follow brown heritage signs from the A22 and A27. Butterfly Conservation will be running events throughout the day in the gardens of this Tudor Mansion (Moth Trap 11:30, Butterfly Walks 12:30 & 2:30, stories and painting throughout the day. Also other wildlife stalls) Priory admission price applies. Leader: Michael Blencowe sussexgrayling@aol.com

MOTHS TBC 20 Sept, 7pm. Sussex Moth Group. Pagham Harbour Our traditional end-of-season migrant hunt at this well known site. Meet in the car park at Church Norton, at the end of Rectory Lane, SZ872956  Target: Migrants. Leader: Robin Storkey

MOTHS TBC Park Corner Heath TQ516 147 Sussex Moth Group. Turn south off the A22 at the ‘Thatched Garage’ (The Landrover Man) into Park Lane, turn right immediately into small private road, entrance is on the right. Impromptu monthly moth traps and fondues?! Target: Lewes Wave. Leader: Michael Blencowe

MOTHS Wednesday 19 November. Sussex Moth Group Indoor Meeting, 7.30pm . Location: Woods Mill, Henfield, West Sussex BN5 9SD