Butterfly Conservation is a registered charity dedicated to the conservation of butterflies and moths. You can find out more about the national organisation here.
The SxBC photo competition is back!
We're inviting photographers to submit their best Sussex butterfly photographs to our annual competition. Whether it's a rare species in flight or a perfect close-up of delicate wing patterns, we want to see it.
The results will be announced at the Members Day held on Sunday the 22nd November. For more information click here.
To see the 2025 winning entries click here.
We have a busy programme of working parties all over the county starting in October into March. This has been a wonderful summer for butterflies and with your help we can make 2027 even better.
Information about all the sessions can be found here.
Anyone can post photos of butterflies they have seen in Sussex. Recent sightings include:
01 Oct: In my brother's garden in East Preston this afternoon, there were several Speckled Woods and a few Small Whites plus a Red Admiral. At East Preston's sea front there was less to see - just one Small White. There was quite a breeze. None of them wanted to pose for pics.
01 Oct: Went to Stoke Bottom with JC and we got lucky with three different male Queen of Spain Fritillaries. For those who know Stoke Bottom, there is a gate which says "no access to the South Downs Way", go through there (it's all open access, by the way), and you will see a tall hedge on your left for the first 50-60 metres. Just as it opens up (to open downland) that's where they were, on the track itself. They like the bare soil. I rushed out a post earlier on this afternoon, just in case someone had some time this afternoon. Neil Hulme has confirmed individuals 2 and 3 as males. He hasn't seen the screenshot that I took of individual 1. They all have different wear and tear of the hindwings (or at least that is my assessment). Otherwise, a very significant emergence of Clouded Yellows, say 35-40. Apart from one or two older specimens they were all immaculate. I think most were females. I'm sure they emerged on the south-facing slope of Stoke Bottom. Species seen with approximate numbers: Clouded Yellow (35-40), Small White (12), Small Copper (12), Brown Argus (1), Common Blue (15), Red Admiral (4), Queen of Spain Fritillary (3) and Small Heath (1). Wildflowers still in bloom, included: Devilsbit Scabious, Small Scabious, Round-headed Rampion, Rough Hawkbit, Wild Mignonette, Common Toadflax, Vipers Bugloss. Common Eyebright - and much more besides. Good going for October 1st
30 Sep: Have now managed to cut our meadow and large areas of long grass. Still quite a bit of butterfly activity. Speckled Wood x3 Clouded Yellow Common Blue Small Copper x2 Wall x2 Small White x2
30 Sep: A Wall today in Etchingham - more evidence of the expansion of their range in Sussex. That’s roughly 3 miles north and east respectively of my last 2 closest Sussex sightings in 2022 and 2023.
30 Sep: We did the last butterfly transect survey of the season at Horseshoe plantation and Belle Toute today. Six species seen ( Speckled Wood, Small Heath, Small Copper, Meadow Brown, Common Blue and very surprised to see a single Chalk Hill Blue). Practical conservation management is now starting on the site over the autumn and winter to maintain and hopefully enhance it for the special species of butterfly that are seen there. Conservation grazing will be more concentrated at this end of the site too to reduce the thatch on the chalk grassland and increase the area used by Adonis and Chalk Hill Blues as well as the Silver-spotted Skippers.
30 Sep: Wall on the Wall (of our house). Only the second one in 12 years, although I have seen another nearby this month. Mare Hill, Pulborough.
30 Sep: Delighted to see a Clouded Yellow f. helice visit the garden at 2.15. It landed briefly on a re-flowering buddleja before departing in a southerly direction, so not even a record shot.
29 Sep: I was surprised to see a Brown Hairstreak in the tree of a neighbouring property during early afternoon, but no chance of a photo. In my own garden the last of the Humming-bird Hawk-moth eggs are hatching, having been transferred from Red Valerian to potted Lady's Bedstraw. The attached first instar larva is a day old.
Click here for more sightings.
Our branch is organising many butterfly walks in the summer across the county.
Our next events are:
22 Nov: Members Day 2026 - More details to come later.
Information on all our walks and other events can be viewed here.
Photo by Graham Hubbard
New colonies of Wood White were recently discovered in West Sussex and our branch is planning to learn more about this rare butterfly.
We are organising a coordinated survey and are looking for volunteers. For more information on the Wood White Project in Sussex click here.
Photo by Graham Hubbard
Throughout the year we receive interesting sightings records. We have started an exercise to identify notable sightings and look for patterns during a month with a little help from an AI assistant.
To read more click here.
07 Aug: Annual Cotoneaster bashing on the Buckle by-pass (A259), Seaford
30 Jun: Martin Kalaher's Open Garden Sunday 12th July.
24 Jun: Scotney Castle - More opportunity to explore
27 Mar: Butterfly Recording Training at National Trust Woolbeding
22 Mar: 2026 walks now appear on the Events Page
28 Feb: Liz Williams Butterfly Haven work day
16 Jan: A summary of Sussex BC work parties in 2026
23 Oct: SxBC Members' Day - Saturday 22nd November 2025 1.30pm – 4.30pm. Latest Update
White Admiral, photo by Maurilio Tesa
Martin Kalaher has written a very interesting article titled 'Partial broods in 2025' to read the article click here.
Last month Martin published 'Second brood Dingy Skippers'. To read that article click here.
Photo from our 2025 competition.
Sussex is one of the best counties in the UK to see a wide range of interesting butterfly species.
More information on species can be viewed here.
There are many important sites for butterflies in our county.
Information on some of them can be viewed here.
Orange-tip by Gary Faulkner
The results of the 2025 SxBC photo competition were announced at the recent Members' Day.
To see the winning entries click here.
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