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The first Women’s Institute meeting was held at Charlton, West Sussex in 1915

Bog bush cricket – Typically found in bogs and wet heathland.

Sundews – carnivorous plants that are specially adapted to live in wet, nutrient poor, acidic soils.

Sand lizard – A sand lizard can grow up to 25cm long!

Adder – one of our native reptiles

Map 4.2 Chalk grassland and lowland heathland distribution within the South Downs National Park | Maps prepared by: GeoSpec, University of Brighton; February 2012. | Source: Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre and Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre, 2011 | Ordnance Survey Crown Copyright © Licence No. 100050083.

Figure 4.2 Heathland SSSI units in the National Park Source: Natural England (2012) England SSSI Unit Condition Assessments, Natural England. Analysis by Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre

The Fish, The Goatsucker and The Highwayman

March 31st, 2020

Also available to buy at the South Downs Centre, this book tells stories of our heathlands, researched and written by our volunteers