What to look out for this month

July is usually a great month for insects, many of whom appreciate some long vegetation - so please don't be too hasty to get the mower out! Keeping the grass long will also keep it healthy during any dry spells as grass that has been cut short will become brown much more quickly.

Whatever suits your garden can also suit wildlife and the area will soon be full of buzzing bees and chirping grasshoppers. Why not also include some night-scented flowers in your garden or outdoor space and see if you can attract moths and bats? You can also help wildlife by adding some fresh water, even a small saucer in the lawn will be beneficial to mammals, birds and insects who all need to drink during hot, dry weather.

What to spot this month

  • Hummingbird Hawkmoth
  • Broad-bodied Chaser Dragonflies
  • Bats
  • Peacock Butterflies
  • Elephant Hawkmoth
  • Common Spotted Orchid
  • Rosebay Willowherb
  • Swifts, Swallows and House Martins
  • Glow Worms
  • Foxgloves
  • Chalkhill and Common Blue Butterflies
  • Solitary bees

Tell us what you've seen

There are many more species to be spotted this month so keep your eyes peeled and don’t forget to submit your sightings via iRecord. These records are then shared with the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre, who hold species data for the county.

Sussex Wildlife Trust nature reserves to visit this month

Old Lodge is a Local Nature Reserve set in the middle of the Ashdown Forest. Heathlands are at their best in summer. Bees, wasps and butterflies busy themselves over the vegetation, Stonechats utter their staccato call from the top of gorse bushes, and the vistas of the rolling Wealden landscape are purple clad with Bell Heather. 

Take a stroll on a warm evening and you might hear the eerie sounds of a Nightjar churring or see the stark silhouette of a Woodcock on its ‘roding’ flight, marking out a giant circle just above tree level to stake its territory. Old Lodge also has several boggy ponds that are popular with species of dragonfly that are generally uncommon in Sussex. These include the Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Black Darter, Keeled Skimmer and the extremely rare Red Damselfly.

Sussex Wildlife Trust Courses

See what events and courses Sussex Wildlife Trust are running this month.





    Time Δ Debug Message - Perch Runway 3.2
    1785233341.60090 [906] SELECT p.pagePath, pr.routePattern, pr.routeRegExp, p.pageTemplate, pr.routeOrder, s.settingValue AS siteOffline FROM swt_pages_staging p LEFT JOIN swt_page_routes pr ON p.pageID=pr.pageID LEFT JOIN swt_settings s ON s.settingID='siteOffline' UNION SELECT NULL AS pagePath, pr2.routePattern, pr2.routeRegExp, pr2.templatePath AS pageTemplate, pr2.routeOrder, NULL AS siteOffline FROM swt_page_routes pr2 WHERE templateID!=0 ORDER BY routeOrder ASC, pagePath ASC
    1785233341.63130.0305Matched page: /discover/around-sussex/what-to-look-out-for, so not using routes.
    1785233341.63150.0001Server address: 216.73.217.178
    1785233341.63150Using master page: /templates/pages/landing_page.php
    1785233341.63190.0004 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/around-sussex/what-to-look-out-for' LIMIT 1
    1785233341.63360.0017 [86] SELECT DISTINCT settingID, settingValue FROM swt_settings WHERE userID=0
    1785233341.63630.0027 [1] SELECT locationID FROM swt_shop_tax_locations WHERE locationIsHome=1 LIMIT 1
    1785233341.63710.0008INSERT INTO swt_shop_cart(memberID,locationID,currencyID,cartPricing,cartProperties) VALUES(NULL,'1',47,'standard','[]')
    1785233341.63960.0025 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_cart WHERE cartID=23522821
    1785233341.64060.001 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_cart WHERE cartID=23522821
    1785233341.64150.001 [nil] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_sales WHERE saleFrom<='2026-07-28 10:09:00' AND saleTo>'2026-07-28 10:09:00' AND saleActive=1 AND saleDeleted IS NULL ORDER BY saleOrder ASC
    1785233341.64320.0016 [2] SELECT regionKey, regionHTML FROM swt_content_regions WHERE regionPage='/discover/around-sussex/what-to-look-out-for' OR regionPage='*' ORDER BY regionPage DESC
    1785233341.64480.0016 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/around-sussex/what-to-look-out-for' OR pageSortPath='/discover/around-sussex/what-to-look-out-for' LIMIT 1
    1785233341.64650.0017 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageID=1 LIMIT 1
    1785233341.64770.0011 [250] SELECT country, countryID FROM swt_shop_countries WHERE countryActive=1 ORDER BY country ASC
    1785233341.650.0023Using template: /templates/pages/attributes/seo.html
    1785233341.65080.0008 [1] SELECT regionID, regionTemplate, regionPage, regionRev AS rev FROM swt_content_regions WHERE regionKey='Banner image' AND (regionPage='/discover/around-sussex/what-to-look-out-for' OR regionPage='*')
    1785233341.65260.0017 [1] SELECT * FROM ( SELECT idx.itemID, c.regionID, idx.pageID, c.itemJSON, idx2.indexValue as sortval FROM swt_content_index idx JOIN swt_content_items c ON idx.itemID=c.itemID AND idx.itemRev=c.itemRev AND idx.regionID=c.regionID JOIN swt_content_index idx2 ON idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev AND idx2.indexKey='_order' WHERE ((idx.regionID=459 AND idx.itemRev=225)) AND idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev ) as tbl GROUP BY itemID, pageID, itemJSON, sortval, regionID ORDER BY sortval ASC
    1785233341.6550.0024 [82] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageDepth >=0 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
    1785233341.66150.0065 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/around-sussex/what-to-look-out-for' LIMIT 1
    1785233341.67110.0096 [2] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-001-014', '000-001', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
    1785233341.6740.003Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template.html
    1785233341.67410.0001 [6] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
    1785233341.67530.0012 [4] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
    1785233341.67590.0006 [29] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
    1785233341.68110.0052 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
    1785233341.68250.0014 [7] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
    1785233341.68330.0009 [9] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
    1785233341.68690.0035 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/around-sussex/what-to-look-out-for' OR pageSortPath='/discover/around-sussex/what-to-look-out-for' LIMIT 1
    1785233341.68850.0017 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageHidden=0 AND pageNew=0 AND pageTreePosition IN ('000-001-014', '000-001', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition
    1785233341.69140.0029 [1] Using template: /templates/navigation/breadcrumbs.html
    1785233341.69190.0005 [1] SELECT regionID, regionTemplate, regionPage, regionRev AS rev FROM swt_content_regions WHERE regionKey='Body Content' AND (regionPage='/discover/around-sussex/what-to-look-out-for' OR regionPage='*')
    1785233341.69330.0014 [1] SELECT * FROM ( SELECT idx.itemID, c.regionID, idx.pageID, c.itemJSON, idx2.indexValue as sortval FROM swt_content_index idx JOIN swt_content_items c ON idx.itemID=c.itemID AND idx.itemRev=c.itemRev AND idx.regionID=c.regionID JOIN swt_content_index idx2 ON idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev AND idx2.indexKey='_order' WHERE ((idx.regionID=460 AND idx.itemRev=320)) AND idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev ) as tbl GROUP BY itemID, pageID, itemJSON, sortval, regionID ORDER BY sortval ASC
    1785233341.69640.0031 [1] Using template: /templates/content/mixed_content.html
    1785233341.69660.0002Using sub-template: /templates/content/text_block.html
    1785233341.69660.0001Using sub-template: /templates/content/thumbnails.html
    1785233341.69670Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
    1785233341.69670Using sub-template: /templates/content/gallery.html
    1785233341.69680Using sub-template: /templates/content/video.html
    1785233341.69680.0001Using sub-template: /templates/content/ask_inline.html
    1785233341.69690Using sub-template: /templates/content/legacy_request_form.html
    1785233341.69690Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
    1785233341.6970Using sub-template: /templates/content/code_block.html
    1785233341.6970Using sub-template: /templates/content/customisable_donate_form.html
    1785233341.69710Using sub-template: /templates/content/contact_form.html
    1785233341.69730.0002Using sub-template: /templates/forms/details.html
    1785233341.69730.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
    1785233341.69740.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
    1785233341.69750.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
    1785233341.69750Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
    1785233341.69750Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
    1785233341.69760Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
    1785233341.69760Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
    1785233341.69770 [9] Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
    1785233341.71080.0131Using template: /templates/pages/attributes/default.html
    1785233341.7110.0002Using sub-template: /templates/pages/attributes/seo.html
    1785233341.71120.0002Using template: /templates/pages/attributes/default.html
    1785233341.71120.0001Using sub-template: /templates/pages/attributes/seo.html
    1785233341.71140.0002 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/what-we-do' OR pageSortPath='/what-we-do' LIMIT 1
    1785233341.71270.0014 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-002' LIMIT 1
    1785233341.71370.001 [7] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-002%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
    1785233341.71830.0046 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/around-sussex/what-to-look-out-for' LIMIT 1
    1785233341.72060.0022 [2] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-001-014', '000-001', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
    1785233341.72330.0027 [6] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
    1785233341.72620.0029 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/make-a-difference' OR pageSortPath='/make-a-difference' LIMIT 1
    1785233341.72720.0011 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-005' LIMIT 1
    1785233341.72820.001 [38] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-005%' ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
    1785233341.73150.0032 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/around-sussex/what-to-look-out-for' LIMIT 1
    1785233341.73630.0048 [2] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-001-014', '000-001', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
    1785233341.73940.0031 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
    1785233341.74340.004 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/visit' OR pageSortPath='/visit' LIMIT 1
    1785233341.74470.0013 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-004' LIMIT 1
    1785233341.74550.0008 [30] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-004%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
    1785233341.74940.0039 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/around-sussex/what-to-look-out-for' LIMIT 1
    1785233341.7560.0066 [2] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-001-014', '000-001', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
    1785233341.76150.0055 [29] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
    1785233341.76420.0027 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/make-a-difference' OR pageSortPath='/make-a-difference' LIMIT 1
    1785233341.76670.0025 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-005' LIMIT 1
    1785233341.76770.001 [11] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-005%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
    1785233341.77090.0031 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/around-sussex/what-to-look-out-for' LIMIT 1
    1785233341.77210.0012 [2] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-001-014', '000-001', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
    1785233341.77490.0028 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
    1785233341.7770.002Request time: 0.1802
    1785233341.7770Process time: 0.18
    1785233341.7770Memory: 1.6222