SUMMER EVENTS & FIELD TRIPS - 2023

Our events are a great way to see butterflies, learn about them, and visit some wonderful places and see many different habitats across Sussex.

Butterfly Walk - Saturday 2nd Sept

The first of these events will be this Saturday, 2nd September, and will be led by our new Chair, Dave Brown, an environmental scientist.

We will be visiting the coastal Sussex Downs immediately to the East of Birling Gap, meeting and starting there and walking Eastwards past Horseshoe Plantation, in the direction of Beachy Head, and then returning to Birling Gap. The area around Horseshoe Plantation is one of Dave's favourite Sussex Butterfly sites; at this time of year we are particularly hoping to see Silver Spotted Skipper and Adonis Blue. While it is hard to miss the stunning colour of a male Adonis Blue, the Silver Spotted Skippers can be more challenging, as they fly very fast and low above the turf, hopefully pausing long enough for good views of them and photographs for those wishing to take them. While those are key species we'll be looking for, there will be a range of other late season ones for us to also enjoy, along with some beautiful wild flowers and the spectacular downland and coastal scenery.

We will be meeting at the Birling Gap Car Park at 1pm. This is a National Trust car park, free to use for NT members (use your NT card at the ticket machine). A parking fee applies for those who aren't NT members. There is a cafe at Birling Gap. The car park, and Birling Gap itself, will likely be very busy, but very few people will be on the paths we will be walking on. The walk itself will be approximately one and a half miles in length, perhaps extending to a maximum of two miles depending on what we are seeing - the exact route we'll take will depend on the weather; the paths we'll use will be determined by the wind, if there is a strong breeze we'll use more sheltered routes as those are where we will see more. There are a couple of steep slopes, and good footwear is essential. The visit will take approximately two to two and a half hours.

We are limiting the number on this walk to 15 so we do ask if you could please confirm your attendance by email to Roy at roybroad@btinternet.com. He will then also be able to contact you if for any reason plans have to be changed.

We appreciate that this is short notice; this is because we are, given the current very changeable weather, having to plan quickly to take advantage of a favourable forecast for a short time. We do hope though that some of you will be able to join us.

Please click on the button below to view the list of events for 2022. This will take you to the In Your Area section of the national Butterfly Conservation web site. View Events

Most of our events are free and open to all, although there is a suggested donation of £2 to help us with our work if you are not a member of Butterfly Conservation. Please check the details carefully as some events are exclusively for members or require pre-booking. For further information, please contact Bee Lewis at events@sussex-butterflies.org.uk.

Please wear stout footwear to outdoor events and appropriate clothes for the weather conditions.

Please also check the website regularly for updates in relation to Covid-19 restrictions.

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.traveline.info 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!