England · five wildlife sites

Nature reserves & wildlife sites in East Sussex

Explore these places for wildlife in East Sussex. Seasonal notes suggest when to look; sightings are not guaranteed.

01 / 05

Rye Harbour

Near Rye Harbour, near Rye.

Habitat: Coastal shingle, saltmarsh, saline lagoons, freshwater pools and reedbeds.
Wildlife to look for: Avocet, ringed plover, little tern (spring and summer), common tern (spring and summer) and sandwich tern (spring and summer).

02 / 05

Near St Leonards-on-Sea.

Habitat: Freshwater reedbed with wetland ditches and patches of ancient woodland.
Wildlife to look for: Reed warbler (spring and summer), sedge warbler (spring and summer), Cetti’s warbler, water rail and bittern (winter).

03 / 05

Near Lewes.

Habitat: Steep chalk downland with flower-rich grassland and scrub.
Wildlife to look for: Adonis blue butterfly (late spring and late summer), chalkhill blue butterfly (summer), common blue butterfly (late spring to early autumn) and skylark.

04 / 05

Near Eridge Green.

Habitat: Ancient woodland with sandstone outcrops and sunny clearings.
Wildlife to look for: Nuthatch, white admiral butterfly (summer) and adder (spring to autumn).

05 / 05

Near Beckley, near Rye.

Habitat: Oak and birch woodland with sunny rides, patches of heathland, ponds and streams.
Wildlife to look for: Great spotted woodpecker, raven, red wood ants (spring to autumn), brimstone butterfly (spring and summer) and white admiral butterfly (summer).