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:
12 Nov: I'd just said to Val that we'd probably set off a bit too late in the afternoon to see any butterflies at the sea front- around 2:30pm - when something fluttered into the road and off behind us. Judging from dull colouring, size and somewhat jerky flight it was a Silver-y Moth. Even less expected, Val spotted a second similar moth in Marine Gardens. But no butterflies.
12 Nov: Despite a temperature of 6c this morning two Red Admirals were basking on my garden Wall. The tatty specimen at 09.09 and the fresh looking one at 09.59.
12 Nov: At least 10 Clouded Yellows at Shoreham today. I parked at the fort, it was 5 degrees when I arrived at 10.30am. Spotted my first just by the public toilet almost straight away. There was a very cold wind but the Wall Lizards didn't mind, 50 spotted at least. It was a very modest 9 degrees when I left at 2pm. I'm sure if you walked along the shingle beach you would find plenty more.
12 Nov: Less than 10°C today but it was sunny and felt warm enough in sheltered spots. 5 Clouded Yellow, 2 Red Admiral, Small Copper, Silver Y, 3 Darter (presumably Common). Only thirty nine days until the Winter Solstice!
11 Nov: Many thanks to all BC Sussex and SDNPA volunteers who started giving this vitally important butterfly site and good haircut today. There's still plenty more to do, but it will be 2 February before we return to make further progress. We had a huge turnout of 24 people, most of which are shown in Paul Day's image. The other Paul Day is standing to my left, or to my right in the image - all very confusing, and there really are two of them. A thick blanket of mist hid the panoramic views today, but there are few better on warm and sunny day in May.
09 Nov: I spent the afternoon gardening - quite warm and sunny but no butterflies. I discover a rather spooky little spider dangling behind my ear when I finally went indoors. It appears to be a Flower Crab Spider, which pounces on its prey rather than trapping it in a web. Wikipedia had a picture of one munching on a Silver-spotted Skipper.
08 Nov: sun 08/11/2016 Ravens Court, Eastbourne, E,Sx. It was a nice sunny day so had a look at Ravens Court hoping to see Long-tailed Blue, alas none seen but saw 1x Red Admiral, 1x Clouded Yellow and 1x Humming-bird Hawkmoth between 11.45 and 12.20pm.
08 Nov: Firstly, many thanks to all who attended the conservation work party at Washington Chalk Pits on Wednesday 4 November, when a combined group of BC Sussex and SDNPA volunteers made another great leap in restoring this brilliant and still rapidly improving site. Today, our trusty volunteers were again hard at work on Park Corner Heath, where we enjoyed Wall-to-Wall sunshine and spectacular autumn colours. A Red Admiral and a female Brimstone joined the party. The image shows, L-R: Fiona, Alan, Richard, Helen P, Jason, Paul, Maya, Roy, Two-fires and me (Helen C and Paul Day, our official photographer, not shown). On Wednesday, we are at Kithurst Hill; if those attending could bring a rake, that would be much appreciated.
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.
Latest feeds ...
Please remember, you can raise money for your favourite Butterfly Conservation Branch every time you shop online simply by clicking on the easyfundraising logo below and then signing up to support our cause.
