Helen Crabtree

The fourth national Non-Estuarine Waterbird Survey (NEWS) will be running this coming December and January. This is a repeat of NEWS III in 2015-2016  and before that NEWS II in 2005-2006.

The survey will involve a single visit during the period 1 December 2026 to 31 January 2027 to each selected stretch of the non-estuarine coast to count mainly birds using the intertidal area. The main target species are turnstone, purple sandpiper, sanderling and other species that use the intertidal area and that are not monitored well by the estuarine WeBS counts.

Each stretch of the Sussex non-estuarine coast is 3-4 km in length and very nearly the entire non-estuarine coastline of Sussex is included in the survey. The available sites can be viewed on this map and volunteers can request to be allocated sites. Helen Crabtree will be organising sites in West Sussex and Dave Boddington sites in East Sussex. Site requests through the vacant sites map will go to the relevant person. Alternatively please contact us directly at hcrabtree@gmail.com and davebodds@yahoo.co.uk for further information or to volunteer to cover a site.

The available sites are (updated 27/9/2026):

East Head
East Wittering and Bracklesham
Bracklesham Bay
Selsey Bill ALLOCATED
Selsey to Church Norton
Pagham ALLOCATED
Aldwick to Bognor Regis ALLOCATED
Bognor Regis to Felpham
Felpham to Atherington
Atherington to Littlehampton
Littlehampton to Rustington
Rustington to Goring ALLOCATED
Goring to Worthing ALLOCATED
Worthing to East Worthing
East Worthing to Lancing ALLOCATED
Shoreham Beach ALLOCATED
Southwick
Portslade
Central Brighton
Brighton marina
Rottingdean
Telscombe
Peacehaven
Newhaven
Seaford
Seaford Head
Cuckmere Haven
Birling Gap
Beachy Head
Eastbourne west
Central Eastbourne
Sovereign Harbour
Pevensey Bay
Norman’s Bay
Bexhill
Glyne Gap
West Hastings
Central Hastings
East Hastings
Fairlight
Fairlight Cove
Pett Level
Winchelsea Beach
Rye Harbour
Camber Sands

This is a good time of the year to consider taking part in the BTO Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), because if you take on a square you will also have the option to take part in the Sussex Winter Bird Survey (SWBS) (starting 1 November 2026) by surveying the same square over the coming winter. Some squares have recently become available and there are plenty of squares available right across the county; some of these squares are accessible if you have limited mobility or if you are reliant on or choose to use public transport.

This national monitoring scheme is administered by the BTO and jointly funded by the BTO, JNCC and RSPB. It has been running since 1994 and its primary aim is to provide population trends for common and widespread bird species in the UK. Population trends for Sussex are also produced and published in the Sussex Bird Report. Survey plots are randomly-selected 1-km squares and the same squares are surveyed each year. Volunteers visit their squares three times each year during the breeding season, once to record simple habitat data, and twice to walk a fixed route, recording birds seen and heard. There are more than 200 BBS squares across Sussex, covering every type of habitat, and new volunteers are always needed.

Volunteers must be able to recognise common and widespread birds by sight and sound, and must be able to physically get around a survey route reasonably early in the morning, but beyond those requirements absolutely anybody is welcomed into this survey scheme. Previous experience of survey work is not necessary and help and support from experienced volunteers can be arranged if required; there will also be some informal practice sessions arranged in Sussex in March and April 2027. Finally there is no requirement to conduct surveys alone – take a friend with you!

The BBS squares (asterisks indicate priority squares that have been surveyed before) in Sussex which currently need volunteers for this coming winter and the 2027 breeding season are (updated 5/10/2026):

SU7907 near Funtington*
SU8102 near Bosham Hoe*
SU8307 near West Stoke*
SU8404 Fishbourne*
SU8909 Goodwood Park*
SU9729 near Northchapel*
SZ7996 East Wittering*
SZ8199 near Birdham
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ0322 near Codmore Hill*
TQ0324 near Wisborough Green
TQ0601 East Preston*
TQ0826 Billingshurst
TQ0918 West Chiltington*
TQ1031 near Slinfold*
TQ1038 near Ewhurst (Surrey)*
TQ1323 Dragon’s Green*
TQ1531 Broadbridge Heath*
TQ1636 Kingsfold*
TQ2536 Gossops Green
TQ2638 Langley Green*
TQ2733 Tilgate Forest*
TQ4716 near Isfield*
TQ4922 near Buxted
TQ5023 Buxted*
TQ5026 High Hurstwood
TQ5128 near Crowborough*
TQ5130 central Crowborough*
TQ5212 Golden Cross
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5312 Golden Cross
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5639 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ6000 Eastbourne Upperton*
TQ6414 Bodle Street*
TQ6419 Earl’s Down*
TQ6817 near Penhurst
TQ7811 Hollington*
TQ8013 Baldslow*
TQ8413 near Three Oaks*
TQ8613 Guestling Green*
TQ9217 near Winchelsea Beach*

The following BBS squares may be accessible to you if you have limited mobility (including using a wheelchair) as the survey routes are entirely on pavements and minor roads:

SZ7996 East Wittering
TQ0601 East Preston
TQ2638 Langley Green
TQ5639 Tunbridge Wells

The following BBS squares may be accessible by train as they are close to rail stations (other squares may be easily accessible by bus):

SU8404 Fishbourne
TQ0205 near Lyminster
TQ5023 Buxted
TQ5228 near Crowborough
TQ5435 near Eridge Station
TQ5738 Tunbridge Wells
TQ6000 Eastbourne Upperton

For further information, please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com.

Volunteers with Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) squares have the option to survey their squares for butterflies during June, July and August, as part of the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey (WCBS) which is a collaboration between the BTO and Butterfly Conservation. Volunteers taking on new squares now can take part in the WCBS and then have the option to survey their squares over the winter for the Sussex Winter Bird Survey before breeding bird surveys begin next April.

The BBS is a national monitoring scheme administered by the BTO and jointly funded by the BTO, JNCC and RSPB. It has been running since 1994 and its primary aim is to provide population trends for common and widespread bird species in the UK.

Survey plots are randomly-selected 1-km squares of the National Grid, and the same squares are surveyed each year. Volunteers visit their squares three times each year during the breeding season, once to record simple habitat data, and twice to walk a fixed route, recording birds seen and heard. There are more than 200 BBS squares across Sussex, covering every type of habitat, and new volunteers are always needed.

Volunteers must be able to recognise common and widespread birds by sight and sound, but previous experience of survey work is not necessary. Help and support from experienced volunteers can be arranged if required.

For the WCBS, volunteers walk their usual BBS routes and record butterflies. Volunteers must be able to recognise common butterfly species but no special expertise is required.

The BBS squares (asterisks indicate priority squares that have been surveyed before) in Sussex which currently need volunteers and which could be surveyed for butterflies this summer are (updated 20/7/2026):

SU8102 near Bosham Hoe*
SU8404 Fishbourne*
SU8602 Chichester Canal (WBBS)*
SU8909 Goodwood Park*
SU9729 near Northchapel*
SZ7996 East Wittering*
SZ8199 near Birdham
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ0322 near Codmore Hill*
TQ0324 near Wisborough Green
TQ0601 East Preston*
TQ0826 Billingshurst
TQ0918 West Chiltington*
TQ1031 near Slinfold*
TQ1038 near Ewhurst (Surrey)*
TQ1323 Dragon’s Green*
TQ1531 Broadbridge Heath*
TQ1636 Kingsfold*
TQ2536 Gossops Green
TQ2734 Tilgate Park*
TQ2638 Langley Green*
TQ3922 near North Chailey*
TQ4922 near Buxted
TQ4938 near Blackham*
TQ5023 Buxted*
TQ5026 High Hurstwood
TQ5128 near Crowborough*
TQ5130 central Crowborough*
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5639 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ6000 Eastbourne Upperton*
TQ6414 Bodle Street*
TQ6419 Earl’s Down*
TQ6817 near Penhurst
TQ7811 Hollington*
TQ8413 near Three Oaks*
TQ8414 near Three Oaks*
TQ8613 Guestling Green*

For further information, please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com.

New volunteers in Sussex are being sought to help to monitor national breeding woodcock numbers. Annual monitoring of roding woodcocks has taken place at a number of sites across the UK each year since 2003; a summary of the results can be found at http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/woodcock-survey/results.

Three visits to a site are required between 1st May and 30th June, commencing 15 minutes before sunset and lasting a total of 75 minutes. For each visit a volunteer remains at a designated point and counts the number of times that roding birds are seen or heard. Full details, including survey methods, can be found at http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/woodcock-survey.

Listed below (updated 19/5/2026) are sites that have been surveyed previously and where roding woodcocks are likely to be encountered; if you are interested in conducting surveys at one of these sites please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com. Also listed are sites that are already being monitored by existing volunteers. Sites not listed below can also be monitored if they are thought to hold breeding woodcocks; please contact Helen Crabtree with a grid reference and a site name if you are interested in conducting surveys at another site. Although the surveys are conducted at designated points, the sites are 1-km squares, and counting points should be separated by at least 1 km to avoid double-counting of roding birds.

SU8128 Chapel Common
SU8421 Iping Common
SU8516 Westdean Woods
SU8521 Stedham Common
SU8525 Woolbeding Common ALLOCATED
SU8529 Stanley Common
SU8626 Woolbeding Common
SU9119 Ambersham Common
SU9129 Blackdown ALLOCATED
SU9218 Graffham Common ALLOCATED
SU9418 Lavington Common ALLOCATED
SU9518 Duncton Common ALLOCATED
SU9523 Upperton Common
SU9727 Ebernoe Common ALLOCATED
SU9807 Rewell Wood
SU9906 Tortington Common
TQ0615 Northpark Wood ALLOCATED
TQ2130 St Leonard’s Forest ALLOCATED
TQ2233 Holmbush Forest ALLOCATED
TQ2429 Warren Wood ALLOCATED
TQ2731 Highbeeches Forest ALLOCATED
TQ2933 Oldhouse Warren ALLOCATED
TQ3034 Worthlodge Forest ALLOCATED
TQ3327 River’s Wood ALLOCATED
TQ4230 Chelwood
TQ4233 Broadstone Warren ALLOCATED
TQ4332 Ashdown Park
TQ4432 Ashdown Ridge ALLOCATED
TQ4528 Marlpits ALLOCATED
TQ4530 Pippingford Park ALLOCATED
TQ4626 Fairwarp ALLOCATED
TQ4627 Duddleswell ALLOCATED
TQ4630 Old Lodge ALLOCATED
TQ4732 Wrens Warren ALLOCATED
TQ4828 Poundgate
TQ5431 Hornshurst Wood ALLOCATED
TQ5526 Walsted Wood ALLOCATED
TQ5536 Broadwater Warren ALLOCATED
TQ5732 Saxonbury Hill
TQ5736 Hargate Forest
TQ8020 Brede High Wood
TQ8521 Beckley Woods

Please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com if you have questions about this survey or would like more information.

Now is the ideal time to sign up to take part in the BTO Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) for this breeding season and to arrange to come along to an informal practice session with other volunteers. Some squares have recently become available and there are plenty of squares available right across the county.

This national monitoring scheme is administered by the BTO and jointly funded by the BTO, JNCC and RSPB. It has been running since 1994 and its primary aim is to provide population trends for common and widespread bird species in the UK. Population trends for Sussex are also produced and published in the Sussex Bird Report.

Survey plots are randomly-selected 1-km squares of the National Grid, and the same squares are surveyed each year. Volunteers visit their squares three times each year during the breeding season, once to record simple habitat data, and twice to walk a fixed route, recording birds seen and heard. There are more than 200 BBS squares across Sussex, covering every type of habitat, and new volunteers are always needed.

Volunteers must be able to recognise common and widespread birds, but previous experience of survey work is not necessary. Help and support from experienced volunteers can be arranged if required, and some informal group practice sessions are planned for late March and early April 2026, to which new volunteers will be invited.

The full list of BBS squares (asterisks indicate priority squares that have been surveyed before) in Sussex which currently need volunteers for the 2026 breeding season (updated 13/5/2026) is as follows:

SU8102 near Bosham Hoe*
SU9729 near Northchapel*
SZ7996 East Wittering*
SZ8199 near Birdham
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ0322 near Codmore Hill*
TQ0324 near Wisborough Green
TQ0826 Billingshurst
TQ0918 West Chiltington*
TQ1031 near Slinfold*
TQ1038 near Ewhurst (Surrey)*
TQ1323 Dragon’s Green*
TQ1531 Broadbridge Heath*
TQ1636 Kingsfold*
TQ2536 Gossops Green
TQ2638 Langley Green*
TQ2734 Tilgate Park*
TQ3922 near North Chailey*
TQ4612 near Ringmer*
TQ4922 near Buxted
TQ4938 near Blackham*
TQ5026 High Hurstwood
TQ5128 near Crowborough*
TQ5130 central Crowborough*
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5639 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ6000 Eastbourne Upperton*
TQ6414 Bodle Street*
TQ6419 Earl’s Down*
TQ6817 near Penhurst
TQ7811 Hollington*
TQ8413 near Three Oaks*
TQ8414 near Three Oaks*
TQ8613 Guestling Green*

For further information, please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com.

The BTO Winter Bird Survey (WINBS) this autumn and winter will involve survey visits to randomly-selected squares most of which are current BTO Breeding Bird Survey (BBS squares). The survey period will run from the 15th September 2025 until the end of February 2026 and between two and four visits are required during this period to count birds and mammals.

Existing BBS volunteers are able to sign up to take part in this survey in their own BBS squares, but there are plenty of available squares for other new volunteers (see below). Taking part in this survey this winter does not commit you to the BBS or to any breeding season surveys. Please contact me at hcrabtree@gmail.com if you are interested in taking part in this survey or would like more information, or register your interest using the availability map at https://app.bto.org/bbs/public/request-square.jsp?s=WINBS. The only requirements are that you can recognise common birds by sight and sound, can record habitat details including crop types, and can commit to the required number of surveys this winter.

Please note that this survey will be running alongside the long-term Sussex Winter Bird Survey for this winter.

The available squares for this autumn and winter include (updated 14/10/2025):

SU7800 near West Itchenor*
SU8102 near Bosham Hoe*
SU8605 central Chichester*
SU8615 Westdean Woods*
SU9113 near East Dean*
SU9923 near Petworth*
SZ7996 East Wittering*
SZ8199 near Birdham
SZ8698 Sidlesham*
TQ0109 Arundel Park*
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ0322 near Codmore Hill*
TQ0324 near Wisborough Green
TQ0826 Billingshurst
TQ0918 West Chiltington*
TQ1031 near Slinfold*
TQ1114 Washington Common*
TQ1323 Dragon’s Green*
TQ1531 Broadbridge Heath*
TQ1606 near Steep Down*
TQ2536 Gossops Green
TQ2638 Langley Green*
TQ3922 near North Chailey*
TQ4938 near Blackham*
TQ5026 High Hurstwood
TQ5128 near Crowborough*
TQ5212 Golden Cross
TQ5220 Blackboys*
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5619 near Heathfield
TQ5639 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ6000 Eastbourne Upperton*
TQ6817 near Penhurst
TQ7811 Hollington*
TQ8023 near Northiam
TQ8413 near Three Oaks*
TQ8414 near Three Oaks*

Helen Crabtree (BTO Representative for Sussex)

New volunteers in Sussex are being sought to help to monitor national breeding woodcock numbers. Annual monitoring of roding woodcocks has taken place at a number of sites across the UK each year since 2003; a summary of the results can be found at http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/woodcock-survey/results.

Three visits to a site are required between 1st May and 30th June, commencing 15 minutes before sunset and lasting a total of 75 minutes. For each visit a volunteer remains at a designated point and counts the number of times that roding birds are seen or heard. Full details, including survey methods, can be found at http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/woodcock-survey.

Listed below (updated 12/4/2025) are sites that have been surveyed previously and where roding woodcocks are likely to be encountered; if you are interested in conducting surveys at one of these sites please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com. Also listed are sites that are already being monitored by existing volunteers. Sites not listed below can also be monitored if they are thought to hold breeding woodcocks; please contact Helen Crabtree with a grid reference and a site name if you are interested in conducting surveys at another site. Although the surveys are conducted at designated points, the sites are 1-km squares, and counting points should be separated by at least 1 km to avoid double-counting of roding birds.

SU8128 Chapel Common
SU8211 Bow Hill
SU8516 Westdean Woods
SU8525 Woolbeding Common ALLOCATED
SU8529 Stanley Common
SU8626 Woolbeding Common
SU9119 Ambersham Common ALLOCATED
SU9129 Blackdown ALLOCATED
SU9418 Lavington Common ALLOCATED
SU9518 Duncton Common ALLOCATED
SU9523 Upperton Common ALLOCATED
SU9727 Ebernoe Common ALLOCATED
SU9807 Rewell Wood
SU9906 Tortington Common
TQ0523 Adversane ALLOCATED
TQ0615 Northpark Wood ALLOCATED
TQ1229 Itchingfield ALLOCATED
TQ2130 St Leonard’s Forest ALLOCATED
TQ2233 Holmbush Forest ALLOCATED
TQ2429 Warren Wood
TQ3034 Worthlodge Forest ALLOCATED
TQ3327 River’s Wood (Balcombe) ALLOCATED
TQ4230 Chelwood
TQ4233 Broadstone Warren ALLOCATED
TQ4332 Ashdown Park ALLOCATED
TQ4432 Ashdown Ridge ALLOCATED
TQ4528 Marlpits ALLOCATED
TQ4530 Pippingford Park
TQ4626 Fairwarp ALLOCATED
TQ4627 Duddleswell ALLOCATED
TQ4630 Old Lodge ALLOCATED
TQ4732 Wrens Warren ALLOCATED
TQ4828 Poundgate ALLOCATED
TQ5223 Waste Wood (Hadlow Down) ALLOCATED
TQ5431 Hornshurst Wood (Rotherfield) ALLOCATED
TQ5526 Walsted Wood ALLOCATED
TQ5536 Broadwater Warren
TQ5732 Saxonbury Hill
TQ5736 Hargate Forest
TQ6217 Rushlake Green ALLOCATED
TQ7920 Brede High Wood ALLOCATED
TQ8020 Brede High Wood ALLOCATED
TQ8121 Chitcombe ALLOCATED
TQ8521 Beckley Woods ALLOCATED

Please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com if you have questions about this survey or would like more information.

Now is the ideal time to sign up to take part in the BTO Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) for this breeding season and to arrange to come along to an informal practice session with other volunteers. Some squares have recently become available and there are plenty of squares available right across the county.

This national monitoring scheme is administered by the BTO and jointly funded by the BTO, JNCC and RSPB. It has been running since 1994 and its primary aim is to provide population trends for common and widespread bird species in the UK. Population trends for Sussex are also produced and published in the Sussex Bird Report.

Survey plots are randomly-selected 1-km squares of the National Grid, and the same squares are surveyed each year. Volunteers visit their squares three times each year during the breeding season, once to record simple habitat data, and twice to walk a fixed route, recording birds seen and heard. There are more than 200 BBS squares across Sussex, covering every type of habitat, and new volunteers are always needed.

Volunteers must be able to recognise common and widespread birds, but previous experience of survey work is not necessary. Help and support from experienced volunteers can be arranged if required, and some informal group practice sessions are planned for late March and early April 2025, to which new volunteers will be invited.

Some highlighted available squares are:

TQ1606 near Sompting: this square on the lower slopes of Steep Down has been surveyed in every year since 2015 and has good numbers of skylarks and corn buntings and other farmland birds.
TQ4233 Broadstone Warren: this is one of very few BBS squares in Sussex with regular redstarts; information is available from the outgoing volunteer about obtaining access permission from landowners.
TQ5023 Buxted: this square was surveyed in every year between 2005 and 2022 and the route is entirely on minor roads and tracks; there is the added advantage of a train station nearby.

The full list of BBS squares (asterisks indicate priority squares that have been surveyed before) in Sussex which currently need volunteers for the 2025 breeding season (updated 2/5/2025) is as follows:

SU7802 Cobnor Point*
SU8527 near Milland*
SU8605 central Chichester*
SU8615 Westdean Woods*
SU9113 near East Dean*
SU9729 near Northchapel*
SU9923 near Petworth*
SZ7996 East Wittering*
SZ8199 near Birdham
SZ8698 Sidlesham*
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ0322 near Codmore Hill*
TQ0324 near Wisborough Green
TQ0826 Billingshurst
TQ1004 Durrington*
TQ1031 near Slinfold*
TQ1038 near Ewhurst (Surrey)*
TQ1323 Dragon’s Green*
TQ1531 near Broadbridge Heath*
TQ1606 near Sompting*
TQ1636 Kingsfold*
TQ2536 Gossops Green
TQ2638 Langley Green*
TQ2805 Hove*
TQ4233 Broadstone Warren*
TQ4821 Uckfield*
TQ4938 near Blackham*
TQ5023 Buxted*
TQ5026 High Hurstwood
TQ5128 near Crowborough*
TQ5220 Blackboys*
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5514 near Chiddingly*
TQ5639 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ6817 near Penhurst
TQ7811 Hollington*
TQ8013 Baldslow*
TQ8413 near Three Oaks*
TQ8414 near Three Oaks*

For further information, please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com.

The Pevensey Levels breeding bird monitoring scheme is an SOS project which aims to increase the regular recording of birds across the Pevensey Levels during the breeding season and to enable the reporting of results to farmers and land managers. This increase in regular recording will be achieved through the allocation of 1×1-km squares to volunteers so that the recording is targeted in well-defined areas and to maximize coverage and reduce duplication of effort. The project will also incorporate data already being collected from three BTO Breeding Bird Survey squares on the Pevensey Levels.

The squares selected to be surveyed are those that have a reasonable level of access using public rights of way or those that have been requested by farmers or landowners to be included in the project with access permission granted to specific volunteers. There is no attempt to survey a random sample of sites because of the relatively small area of the Pevensey Levels and the simple aim of increasing regular recording rather than calculating population trends.

Volunteers should aim to visit each allocated square twice during each breeding season. The early visit should be made between early April and mid-May, and the late visit between mid-May and the end of June. On each visit volunteers should walk a transect route in the square which covers as much of the square as possible and which takes around 1 -1.5 hours at a slow methodical pace.

The squares selected to be surveyed are as follows (updated 1/4/2025):

TQ6108 White Dyke Farm ALLOCATED
TQ6109 Whelpley Sewer
TQ6110 Gildridge Farm ALLOCATED
TQ6206 Bridge Farm ALLOCATED
TQ6207 Rickney Farm ALLOCATED
TQ6208 Horse Eye
TQ6209 New Bridge (BBS square) ALLOCATED
TQ6210 Sackville Farm ALLOCATED
TQ6306 Chilley Farm
TQ6308 Hurst Haven
TQ6309 Hurst Haven North ALLOCATED
TQ6310 Cherry Croft Farm ALLOCATED
TQ6407 Pylons Farm
TQ6608 Horse Bridge (BBS square) ALLOCATED
TQ6609 Waterhouse Farm
TQ6710 Hogtrough Bridge
TQ6806 Hooe Level ALLOCATED
TQ6807 Old Road Farm (BBS square) ALLOCATED
TQ6808 Court Lodge ALLOCATED
TQ6906 Crooked Ditch
TQ6908 near Hooe village ALLOCATED

If you are interested in taking on one of the unallocated squares listed above please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com for further information and instructions. If you live nearby and know landowners such that you are able to access a square on the Pevensey Levels that is not listed above then please also contact Helen and this square can be added to the scheme. Please contact Helen with any questions or comments about this project.

The South Downs farmland bird monitoring project started in 2014 as part the South Downs Farmland Bird Initiative. The project is a collaboration between the RSPB, Natural England, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), the BTO, the South Downs Land Management Group and the Sussex and Hampshire Ornithological Societies. The project combines data from the BTO Breeding Bird Survey with additional data from randomly-distributed squares within the South Downs national park that are surveyed annually in the breeding season. The South Downs Farmland Bird Initiative is a wider project which involves working with farmers and landowners to provide the ‘Big 3’ for farmland birds: safe nesting areas, summer feeding areas and winter feeding areas. Focusing on lapwing, grey partridge and corn bunting, the habitat created also benefits other bird species such as skylark, linnet and yellowhammer, as well as other farmland wildlife including brown hares, rare arable plants and bumblebees. The monitoring project will hopefully help to measure the effectiveness of this work across the South Downs national park.

Just two visits to each square are required during the breeding season to walk a fixed route and record all the birds seen and heard. The ability to recognise common farmland birds by sight and sound is required but no special expertise or previous experience is needed.

The available squares to be surveyed in Sussex in 2025 are listed below (updated 1/4/2025), and the survey instructions are available here. If you are interested in taking on one of these squares for this project, or if you would like further information, please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com.

SU7721 Goose Green
SU8218 Treyford
SU8408 near Chichester
SU8518 Bepton
SU8614 near Singleton
SU9008 Halnaker
SU9013 East Dean
SU9021 near Midhurst
SU9126 near Lickfold
SU9308 near Eartham
SU9725 Hoads Common
TQ0310 near North Stoke
TQ0808 near Patching
TQ0907 near Clapham

The available squares to be surveyed in Hampshire are:

SU4922 near Colden Common
SU4925 near Twyford
SU5419 near Upham
SU5730 Tichborne
SU6029 Cheriton Wood
SU6225 Brockwood Copse
SU6228 near Bramdean
SU6422 near West Meon
SU6513 near Hambledon
SU6529 West Tisted
SU6617 near Chidden
SU6627 Filmore Hill
SU6828 Basing Park
SU7127 Froxfield
SU7229 near Colemore
SU7522 Petersfield
SU7741 Binsted