Butterfly Conservation is a registered charity dedicated to the conservation of butterflies and moths. You can find out more about the national organisation here.
Members' Day is on Sunday 22 November at 11:30 at the Adastra Hall in Hassocks ///furnish.bordering.suppose.
Our Chair Dave Brown will start with an introduction to the AGM followed by talks from Gareth Tilley with his "Shining a New Light on Butterflies". Ash Walmsley will talk about the history, ecology and conservation of Ashdown Forest. There will also be an update on the Wood White Project.
For more information 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:
31 Oct: After a week's holiday in the Romney Marsh area with my only sighting being an early morning Humming-bird Hawk-moth so close I could have touched it, today in Worthing we spotted 2 Holly Blues and one Clouded Yellow. The Clouded Yellow was enjoying an abandoned bowling green at Beach Park and the Holly Blue posed nicely for my phone, also in the Park.
31 Oct: A late change of plans saw me in Stoke Bottom around lunchtime today together with; Small White, Peacock, Brimstone, Green-veined White and silly numbers of Clouded Yellow of which I took silly amounts of photos.
31 Oct: A walk round the east side of North Lancing was warm and sunny, but numbers were down compared to recent jaunts. 5 Red Admiral, 4 Clouded Yellow, 2 Small White, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, 3 Silver Y, Humming-bird Hawk-moth. However, I got home at 13.00 and was excited to see a none-too-shabby male Long-tailed Blue briefly nectaring on recumbent Rosemary. It flew into my neighbour's garden and I waited to see if it might return. Within five minutes a butterfly did appear on the Rosemary, but this time it was a very fresh female! She too dove over the fence, no doubt keen to get mated and try to make the epic reverse migration to France. Good luck my beauty! My last garden sighting was sixteen days ago.
31 Oct: A lovely walk in the sunshine at Nyman's Gardens, Handcross produced 4 Red Admiral and 2 Silver Y. The conditions at the time were 14C with a light wind. No photos unfortunately.
30 Oct: Soon after the fog lifted at Pulborough Brooks there was a Red Admiral and 2 others later. Then near Winpenny 2 Clouded Yellow and a Peacock after lunchtime. Two other people I spoke to reported seeing Brimstone. Plenty of darters sunning themselves on the post and rail fencing. Lovely day and brilliant autumn light.
30 Oct: Another visit to the Sompting QoS field and surrounding area was warm and gloriously sunny. 32 Clouded Yellow, 7 Red Admiral, 6 Small White, 2 Brimstone (m&f), Holly Blue (m), Small Copper, Painted Lady, Peacock, Humming-bird Hawk-moth, Silver Y. Wow! Just wonderful!
30 Oct: Todays visit ro Herstmonceux turned into a bit of a puzzle when I got home. I rhought I had seen one Small Tortoiseshell twice, but cruel enlargement on the computer suggests two individuals were seen. Quite remarkable given the date. This makes three Small Torts for me this year. Also seen today, Three Clouded Yellows, and a very quick Red Admieal.
30 Oct: I have been told that Queen of Spain Fritillary have been emerging this week. Not a Sussex report but there is no reason why there shouldn't be some to find!
Click here for more sightings.
Photo by Graham Hubbard
New colonies of Wood White were recently discovered in West Sussex and our branch is seeking to learn more about this rare butterfly.
Our 2026 Survey Report is now available click here.
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 Oct: Branch MEMBERS DAY update
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
Our branch is organising many butterfly walks in the summer across the county.
Our next events are:
22 Nov: Sussex BC Members Day 2026
Information on all our walks and other events can be viewed here.
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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