SUMMER EVENTS & FIELD TRIPS - 2018

Suitable for:

Leader: Bill Downey billdowney@sky.com

Location: Gatwick

A training day in recording butterflies along a fixed transect route in order to gather data for UK BMS. There is no cost for this day, but it is being run with the expectation that people would either like to assist with some of the transects at Gatwick, or set up their own regular transect. There is a maximum number of 12 spaces for this training day Time: 9.45am for a 10am at Tilgate Park meeting room. After an hour or so session in the classroom (tea and coffee provided), we will be driving to Larkin’s Road at Gatwick, Horley to walk the conservation area and practice our transect Please bring along a packed lunch, warm layers and suitable footwear as the ground is very uneven and muddy in places. To book a space, please contact Bill Downey: billdowney@sky.com

Suitable for:   

Leader: Barbara Woods 01444 412483 b.woods512@btinternet.com

Location: Muster Green, Haywards Heath

Grid Reference: TQ328240

Meeting place: Muster Green, Haywards Heath

Come and talk to us on our stand at the annual Haywards Heath Spring Festival on Muster Green.

Suitable for:   

Leader: Colin Gibbs 07540 492851 colin.gibbs@yahoo.co.uk

Location: Hargate Forest

Grid Reference: TQ 57131 37611

Distance: 2.5km

Meeting place: Broadwater Down, Tunbridge Wells. Just off the A26 Eridge Road at the entrance to the forest next to the Woodland Trust sign (about 60m up the road from the A26 junction).

Terrain: Gently undulating woodland, heath and grassland paths. Most tracks are wide and fairly easy going for all.

Target species: Grizzled Skipper & Dingy Skipper

Open to all – beginners welcome. Children and families especially welcome. Dogs on leads. We hope to encounter a good range of springtime species during a leisurely walk through this lovely forest near the Kent border. Hargate Forest is a Woodland Trust reserve and is a strong-hold of the Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper - both high priority species for conservation.

Nearby bus stops for buses 228, 229, 28, 29, 29X, U19, 786 (all within 100m). Nearest train station is Tunbridge Wells (2km away). Parking on roadside on Broadwater Down.

Suitable for:   

Leader: Chris Corrigan 0798 2606661 chriscorrigan3@gmail.com

Location: Mill Hill LNR, Shoreham-by-Sea

Grid Reference: TQ 212 074

Distance: 2km (1.25mile)

Meeting place: Meet at the main (upper) car park on the road from Shoreham to Truleigh Hill. This is an approximately 30 min walk from Shoreham Railway Station

Terrain: Rough path along steep slope

Target species: Adonis Blue, Wall, Green Hairstreak, Dingy Skipper and Grizzled Skipper

The Mill Hill May “Big 5” – Going for the first Sussex Adonis blues of the year, wall, green hairstreak and dingy and grizzled skippers! This is a lovely potter around Mill Hill for all abilities, with families and beginners being especially welcome.

Good for public transport. Dogs are welcome as long as they are on a lead.

Suitable for:   

Leader: Colin Gibbs 07540 492851 colin.gibbs@yahoo.co.uk

Location: Malling Down, Lewes

Grid Reference: TQ 42311 10604

Distance: 3km

Meeting place: Wheatsheaf Gardens, just off Malling ~Street (A26) Lewes. Down from Pets Corner and almost opposite the petrol station

Terrain: Very steep slopes, rough, uneven ground. Not suitable for those with mobility restrictions. Quite a few nettles and brambles – shorts / skirts only for the brave! One big climb and one very steep desc

Target species: Adonis Blue, Wall Brown, Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Brown Argus, Small Copper, Small Heath

Open to all – beginners welcome. Children and families especially welcome but please note that the terrain is a little tricky in places and it's a reasonably strenuous walk. Dogs on leads due to grazing sheep on the reserve. We are aiming to see the Magnificent Seven but with luck and some enthusiasm we may see a few more!

Good for public transport (buses 122,125,132,143,A5, 29). Nearest parking – Harveys Way, 5 – 10 minutes walk away but crossing a busy road.

Suitable for:   

Leader: Neil Hulme 07778 306816 nh@nhulme.eclipse.co.uk

Location: Heyshott Escarpment, Charlton Forest borders and Graffham Down

Grid Reference: SU900176

Distance: 7km

Meeting place: Meet at the sharp bend in the road at the most southerly point of Heyshott village. Please park with consideration for residents. You may need to walk some distance to the meeting point

Terrain: Long and very steep climb and descent, over uneven and possibly slippery ground.

Target species: Duke of Burgundy, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Green Hairstreak, Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Drab Looper

This walk is strictly for the very fit and energetic only. Packed lunch, plenty of fluids, a strong walking stick and boots with ankle support are essential. The walk involves a very steep climb and descent and covers a distance of at least 7km. We’ll be out all day.

Saturday, 9th June 11:00 to 13:30

Return of the Small Pearls

Suitable for:   

Leader: Neil Hulme 07778 306816 nh@nhulme.eclipse.co.uk

Location: Park Corner Heath & Rowland Wood

Grid Reference: TQ515147

Distance: 1.5km

Meeting place: By the main gate to the reserves

Terrain: Flat but occasionally damp under foot

Target species: Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

A very special visit to Butterfly Conservation's reserve in Sussex.

Dogs are welcome on a lead. Please clean-up after your dog!

Suitable for:   

Leader: Colin Knight 07704 830104 knightct@yahoo.com

Location: Iping and Stedham Commons

Grid Reference: SU85222200

Distance: 4km (2.75 mile)

Meeting place: Meet at the Car park at SU85222200. Directions: 2.7 miles west from Midhurst on A272, turn left (south) on to Elsted Road. Car park is 250m on the right. Distance: 4km (2.75 mile) walk.

Terrain: Mostly flat and easy going. Additional info about commons: https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/visit/iping-stedham-commons

Target species: Silver-studded Blue and Common Heath moth

Find out about heathland butterflies and moths on this walk around these two special Sussex lowland heath nature reserve sites. All are welcome and do bring a picnic lunch. https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/visit/iping-stedham-commons

Suitable for:   

Leader: Paul Johnson 0752 8861058 paul.johnson.1603@hotmail.co.uk

Location: Hargate Forest

Grid Reference: TQ571376

Distance: Approximately 4-5 km

Meeting place: Please meet at the entrance to Hargate Forest on Broadwater Down on the southern edge of Tunbridge Wells. There is ample free on-street parking on Broadwater Down.

Terrain: Some slopes but the walk will mainly be on good forest rides.

Target species: Woodland species including White Admiral, Silver-washed Fritillary and possibly Purple Emperor.

All welcome on this walk around the Sussex High Weald mature woodland near Tunbridge Wells.

Join us in the afternoon too for an optional walk nearby at Eridge Old Park for grassland and woodland butterflies. Details to be given out on the day. Please bring a packed lunch if staying for both walks.

Suitable for:   

Leader: Michael Blencowe 07884484698 sussexgrayling@aol.com

Location: Graffham Down nr Petworth

Grid Reference: SU924164

Distance: 5km

Meeting place: Meet by St Giles Church at the south end of Graffham village at the foot of the Downs (nearest postcode GU28 0NJ). Please note if you are using a GPS you cannot 'cut through' Seaford College to get to the meeting point. You must drive through Graffham village.

Terrain: A steep climb at the start (800m) and then a flat walk on the top of the Downs. Steep descent.

Target species: White Admiral, Purple Emperor, many moth species.

Join us for the annual Graffham Down picnic. We'll walk around the wonderful Graffham Down reserves looking for summer butterflies as well as opening a moth trap from the previous evening. At the end of the walk we'll stop for a picnic and enjoy the view across Sussex (complete with Purple Emperors). Bring packed lunch.

Suitable for:   

Leader: Richard Roebuck 07973 751001 richard@roebuckonline.co.uk

Location: Steyning

Grid Reference: TQ173113

Distance: 1.2 miles to the site up a footpath on a gentle incline and then through a kissing gate to the res

Meeting place: Meet at at the Corner of Mill Road, at the base of the footpath leading up to the Steyning Downland Scheme area adjacent to the Bowls club and allotment.

Terrain: Grassland with varying Gradients but wear stout footwear and clothes for the forecast weather conditions.

Target species: Brown Hairstreak but often other common species associated with Chalk Grassland and the season

All are welcome but children should be accompanied by an adult.

Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead. Please wear stout footwear and appropriate clothes for the weather conditions.

Suitable for:  

Leader: Chair Nigel Symington 07808 936900 nigel.symington@gmail.com

Location: Cyprus Hall, 12 Cyprus Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 8DX

Grid Reference: TQ 31496 19116

Meeting place: Cyprus Hall in Cyprus Road, Burgess Hill. The hall is about 5 minutes walk from Burgess Hill Station. There is a large pay and display car park behind Cyprus Hall, and other (also paying) car parks around the centre of Burgess Hill. The Hall is about 5 minutes’ walk from Burgess Hill station.

Target species: All Sussex species seen throughout 2018.

Join us for our Annual General Meeting, which will be immediately followed by a Members’ Afternoon, with the following programme:

Paul Waring. ‘A Lifetime of Mothing’

Moth expert Paul Waring began with a schoolboy interest in caterpillars. Since 1987, he has worked full time on moth conservation in Britain, both within government conservation agencies and as a freelancer, as well as mothing throughout the world. He is co-author of the established classic ‘Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland’, a book which many of you no doubt own and which has been described as ‘Brilliant’ and ‘Quite simply the best in the field’. He will take this opportunity to talk about his conservation work in Britain, and also to take the audience on a trip around the world with some very memorable moths.

*Interval for tea, cakes and mingling*

Justin Ingham. ‘Saving the Butterflies of Sussex - return of the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary’

This 8-minute video was made by professional videographer Justin Ingham to emphasise to a lay audience why conservation work is important, what it involves and how it helped to return the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary to our reserve at Rowland Wood and Park Corner Heath. Featuring some of the most ruggedly good-looking cast in Sussex, this will also be informative for anyone who is concerned with our work and with conservation in general.

Michael Blencowe. ‘The butterfly year’

Michael’s talks always draw a large audience. Combining erudition, wit and a deep knowledge and love of butterflies, this is an experience not to be missed. Add to this his wonderful set of images which see the world in a way that no one else would even think of, and you’ll see why each talk that he gives is a one-off experience that can never be repeated.

We anticipate that the afternoon will finish at around 4.30 pm