Sussex Wildlife Trust was formed in 1961 to conserve the natural heritage of Sussex. It now manages 4,500 acres of land and has over 33,000 members, 6,000 junior members and 450 volunteers, making it largest conservation organisation dedicated to conserving the natural heritage of Sussex.

Badger

Meles meles

Family: Mustelidae

Habitat: Woodland and scrub.

Food: Earthworms, insects, fruit, carrion, cereals and fruit.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Badgers are sociable forming groups of around six adults. They are burrowing animals and construct complicated setts which are passed down the generations. They typically emerge late afternoon.

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes crucigera

Family: Canidae

Habitat: Farmland, gardens and parks, woodland, heathland, grassland, sand dunes and sea cliffs.

Size: Height 35-50 cm (14-20 in). Length 45-90 cm (18-35 in). Tail 30-56 cm (12-22 in).

Food: Rodents, rabbits, birds, fruit and vegetables, fish, frogs, and worms.

Sound: Vocal range of five octaves. Various barks and screams.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Goldcrest

Regulus regulus

Family: Regulidae (Kinglets)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, woodland and native pine woods.

Size: Length 8.5-9.5 cm (3.3-3.7 in). Wingspan 13.5-15.5 cm (5.3-6.1 in).

Food: Spiders, moth eggs and other small insect food.

Voice: High-pitched tseee.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Goldcrests are the smallest bird in Europe.

Blue Tit

Cyanistes caeruleus

Family: Paridae (Tits)

Habitat: Woodland, gardens and parks and hedgerows.

Size: Length 12 cm (4.7 in) Wingspan 18 cm (7.1 in).

Food: Insects, caterpillars, seeds and nuts.

Voice: Tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee-sit. Scolding churr.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Frequently family flocks join up with other tits in the search for food. Acrobatic feeders. They usually nest in tree holes.

Green Woodpecker

Picus viridis

Family: Picidae (Woodpeckers and allies)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, grasslands, heathlands and woodland.

Food: Ants.

Voice: Distinctive ringing laugh yah, yah, yah.

Season: All year round. All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Green woodpeckers spend a lot of time eating ants on the ground. They breed in oval holes they peck in dead wood.

Bullfinch

Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Family: Fringillidae (Finches)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, towns and gardens, woodland and hedgerows.

Food: Seeds, buds and insects.

Voice: Sadwhistling peeeuu. Quiet warble song.

Season: All year round. All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Also called the common bullfinch it builds its nest in a large bush.

Chaffinch

Fringilla coelebs

Family: Fringillidae (Finches)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, grasslands, woodland and hedgerows.

Food: Insects and seeds.

Voice: The fink call of the chaffinch gives the finch family its name.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Prefers open woodland and spends a lot of time foraging on the ground. One of the most colourful of the finches.

White-letter Hairstreak

Satyrium w-album

Family: Lycaenidae (Blue)

Habitat: Woodland and hedgerows.

Size: Length 16 mm (0.63 in). Wingspan 25-35 mm (1-1.4 in).

Food: Elm honeydew, creeping thistle and bramble blossom.

Flight: Early June to late August.

Winter is spent as an egg on an elm tree. The caterpillar hatches in march and feeds on the elm flowers and seeds.

Named after the W shaped white line on its underside.