Below is a partial list of recent events and field trips
Show Future Events| Date: | Friday 07 Aug 2026 |
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| Event Title: | An Introduction to Castle Hill NNR its butterfly and plant species with Graham Hubbard. |
| Event Description: | A stroll across this beautiful national nature reserve situated just North East of Woodingdean on the Eastern side of Brighton, a fine example of Chalk downland with its associated species. |
| Event Type: | Walk |
| Event Time: | 10:00 to 13:00 |
| Target Species: | There should be a good chance of seeing Adonis Blue, Chalk Hill Blue, Common Blue and hopefully Small Blue if we're lucky. Also Brown Argus, possibly Skippers and anything else that may be enjoying the nectar of the many plant species on this site. |
| Meeting Place: | Castle Hill Car park - /// skip.diverged.farmland - this is a free car park and is well used. If parking is limited then there is usually parking along Bexhill Rd Which is next left (if facing the sea) but allow time to walk from here to the meeting point at the car park by 10:00, prompt. |
| OS Grid Ref: | TQ 35641 06338 |
| Map: | |
| Contact Details: | Booking will be required by email to events@sussex-butterflies.org.uk Please put “Castle Hill” as the subject of the email. |
| Other Info: | Members only initially and numbers will be restricted to 12. There's a slight potential of ticks as there is long grass and undergrowth, and some uneven ground and narrow paths in places, also bramble and rose thorns, so long trousers are recommended. This area is frequented by dog walkers so common sense applies here. |
| Date: | Saturday 01 Aug 2026 |
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| Event Title: | Martin Kalaher will lead a walk in Stoke Bottom and Medley Bottom, near Amberley |
| Event Description: | Martin will as usual bring his expertise to point out the range of butterflies in this rich downland area and again bring to your attention many of the plants and other wildlife to be found there. |
| Event Type: | Walk |
| Event Time: | 10:00 to 13:00 |
| Target Species: | You would expect to see the usual downland butterflies and hopefully up to 5 or 6 Blue species including Adonis, Chalkhill and Small. |
| Meeting Place: | The meeting place for the walk this coming weekend (Saturday the 1st of August) is in the Amberley Village carpark. This can be found by turning north off the B2139 towards Amberley Village on School Road. The entrance is then just 50 yards or so on the right hand side. If you reach the school which is on the right again you have gone too far. It is free parking. The approximate What3Words for the entrance is ///presenter.dressing.lately and the Grid Reference is as in the event details, TQ 0316 1295. |
| OS Grid Ref: | TQ 0316 1295 |
| Map: | |
| Contact Details: | Please register your interest to Roy at events@sussex-butterflies.org.uk using Stoke Bottom as the subject title. |
| Other Info: | Booking essential. Initially Sussex BC members only but may be opened to non members later. Limited to 12 attendees |
| Date: | Friday 17 Jul 2026 |
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| Event Title: | The Butterflies, Dragonflies and some History of Scotney Castle |
| Event Description: | A stroll round the 800-acre Scotney Castle Estate and SSSI parkland looking for butterflies and dragonflies with Keith Goodman. Keith is a NT Estate Guide and member of the Sussex BC branch with two transects across the Estate so we are hoping to learn about Scotney Castle and its natural history as we walk around. Newly Added. For those on this walk, and are interested, Keith is kindly offering to lead a walk to different areas of the estate to see more flora and fauna as well as giving information on the social history of the estate including its role as one of the last remaining hop farms in the country. This would be following a lunch break after the morning session. The Scotney Castle cafe will be open or bring your own picnic. This bonus to our visit would be about 1½ hours long finishing around 15:30. |
| Event Type: | Walk |
| Event Time: | 11:00 to 13:00 |
| Target Species: | The Scotney Estate includes woodland, parkland and grazing but being in the High Weald doesn't have the largest species list in the county. However we would expect to see Silver-washed Fritillary, Skippers, Ringlets and a variety of Odonata including Demoiselles. |
| Meeting Place: | The entrance to Scotney Castle is on the B2169, approximately 200m NW of the A21 Scotney Castle roundabout. It is NOT accessible from the Goudhurst direction on the A262. Parking is free for NT members or £4.50 for non-members. This includes entry to the café (we meet on the grass in front of it - W3W clotting.shampoo.original) plus the shop and Walled Garden. Parking is limited and must be pre-booked. It is suggested to do this a week before the event Entry to the Mansion, Castle and Formal Gardens is not required for this walk. |
| OS Grid Ref: | TQ 68721 35409 |
| Map: | |
| Contact Details: | For booking - events@sussex-butterflies.org.uk using the title "Scotney Castle" Please advise if you are hoping to stay for the afternoon session. |
| Other Info: | Attendance is restricted to BC members only and to 12 people maximum. Please register an interest by emailing events@sussex-butterflies.org.uk with the Title of "Scotney Castle" Ticks are not normally a problem but there are wild deer in the area of our walk and we may encounter dog walkers and a herd of friendly cattle. The cafe is open from 10:00 and the walk may be extended into the afternoon if attendees require and the conditions make it worthwhile. |
