Volunteers helped to make a difference at the Benfield Wildlife & Conservation Group Volunteer Days on Benfield Hill that took place in January 2026. They Helped us plant a new hedgerow Planted insect‑friendly trees to boost biodiversity Improved nature connectivity and created new habitats and shelter for our wildlife Provided tress that will sequester carbon and fight climate change Met like‑minded people and enjoyed nature and the outdoors It is going to make a positive

To May 2013 and a nature survey on Benfield Hill Local Nature Reserve filmed by one of the original founders of our group, the late and much missed Dolly Bell.

Sussex Wildlife Trust's Huw Morgan and the Brighton Hit Squad volunteers collected Yellow-rattle seed on the South Downs near Brighton in September 2025.

There are so many benefits to volunteering in outdoor work groups! Everyone is always welcoming and if you like nature, you’ll definitely find likeminded people too. Thanks to Kieran for these words and the amazing video footage, and to Sally for organising the event.

It's been some time, but life has recently taken priority, and as a result the website hasn't received much attention. Hopefully, that will change now so to begin, we've added some new images to the Gallery page. The group is very fortunate to have some amazing and enthusiastic wildlife photographers who visit the reserve in all seasons to record nature at its finest and and who kindly allow us to share their artistry with our visitors here. Please have a look when you have

The adders may be difficult to spot in the undergrowth during the day but the badgers at Benfield are even harder to see as they are mostly nocturnal, although cubs may be seen foraging during daylight during the summer if food is scarce. Earthworms make up most of the badger's diet, often by as much as 60 per cent. In a single night, an adult badger may eat well over 200 worms! If conditions are harsh they'll eat snails, slugs and soft fruit like raspberries and fallen blac

Our rainforest in miniature. Local naturalist, author and Brighton Downs Alliance campaigner Dave Bangs has made a fantastic film all about the mosses, herbs, invertebrates, reptiles and birds to be found in our Chalk Grassland. He is assisted by some of the leading experts in their field including Dave Goulson, Alice Parfitt and Neil Hulme, and it contains lovely footage of dancing Adders, jewel like beetles, orchids and fungi. Please enjoy and share it far and wide!

This male and female pair of adders were spotted quite recently, getting to know one another. Like so much wildlife they are very shy and...

Our licensed dormouse handler carried out the first Dormouse box check on the reserve on Sunday April 4th and saw this lovely male...

They've done a magnificent job again this year and now it;s off to pastures new for them. Here they are corralled together waiting for...

Plenty of butterflies out today in the sunshine.

We use sheep every year to graze the reserve for a few weeks before Spring to cut back the previous year's growth, Their job is quite...

Our Tuesday volunteer sessions are spent maintaining the hill so that chalk downland flowers and wildlife can thrive. This can entail...

Sally making sure the sheep on the reserve are adequately watered while Pete makes sure they can't escape. Oh, and the blackthorn is...

We are very fortunate to have a fully licenced dormouse handler in the group. Sally has written up her experiences over the last few...

Join Sally and the group on our guided Flower Walk over Benfield Hill Local Nature Reserve. Meet on Benfield Bridge Hove Sussex, over...

Members and friends joined us on 29th June, 2019 and, between 10.30pm and midnight, when about 53 glowing females were sighted. This is...

The group enjoyed another fascinating moth identification evening on 25h June with Steven Teale, of the Sussex Moth Group. Two traps were...

A most enjoyable afternoon with little wind was enjoyed by members and guests, and about 70 species were noted. We are lucky that, per...