Summer wildlife spotting in the South East

The diversity and beauty of wildlife across the South East is awe-inspiring which is why we are working hard to maintain, protect and conserve it for the future. From butterfly walks and bird-spotting to Herbridean sheep and hares, the South East has an abundance of wildlife on display by nature for you to embrace this summer.

Welcome back sign in field — Plan and book your visit

Check before you visit

This article was created before the coronavirus crisis, and may not reflect the current situation. Please make sure you check web pages for individual places before you travel, to see where is open and where you may need to book, as well as the most up to date information about visiting

Take a look at what's open near you

Purple emperor butterfly — Look for the elusive purple emperor butterfly

Butterfly walks

Butterflies are emerging across the South East. Spot beauties like the Adonis blue on a walk at Newtimber Hill in West Sussex, or the Purple emperor at one of our Surrey Hills sites.

Follow a butterfly trail

red kite — Red kite at Watlington Hill

Top spots for wildlife in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire

Search for a few of your favourite beasts this summer through a host of healthy habitats this summer.

More on spotting wildlife

A blue butterfly — An Adonis blue at The White Cliffs of Dover

Wildlife in and around East Sussex

From Bodiam's bats and bees to Scotney's herd, come and seek out your favourite critters this summer.

Find a place to spot wildlife

A pearl bordered fritillary butterfly on speedwell flowers — A rare pearl bordered fritillary butterfly

Butterflies at Stockbridge Down

Over 30 species of butterfly thrive at Stockbridge Down. Declining varieties such as the duke of Burgundy and pearl-bordered fritillary can be spotted here, encouraged through careful habitat management.

Discover rare species

Osprey stood on a post — Osprey

Isle of Wight wonders

Across our downs, within Newtown’s meadows, and deep in Borthwood’s woods, wildlife can be found throughout the summer across the countryside on the Isle of Wight.

Where to go and what to see

A pair of nightjars at the New Forest Northern Commons — See if you can spot nightjars at dusk

Summer wildlife in the New Forest

Head to the open heaths of our New Forest commons on a summer evening for a wildlife fiesta. You'll find flittering bats, delicate moths and a magnificent dusk chorus. Listen out for the churring of the rare nightjar.

See summer wildlife

A beautiful blue Southern Migrant Hawker dragonfly sitting on a reed — The beautiful blue of a Southern Migrant Hawker dragonfly

Wildlife in Kent

From Ightham Mote's birds and butterflies to Scotney's herd, come and seek out your favourite critters this summer.

Find a place to spot wildlife

A glow worm on a leaf at night, spotting during surveys at Stockbridge Down, Hampshire — A glow worm spotted on Stockbridge Down during surveys

Glow-worms at Stockbridge Down

On a summer’s night, under the soft darkness of a new moon, our ranger Cat Hadler will be overseeing her fourth annual glow worm survey.

Go glow-worm surveying

Peregrine flying off the Kent coast — Look out for Peregrine Falcons along the Kent coast all year round

Kent coast

The Kent coast is home to salt marsh, mud flats, towering chalk cliffs and grassland. Its huge diversity of wildlife is one of the reasons we're working hard to protect it.

Beautiful birds and butterflies

Waxwing

Wildlife walks in Hampshire

Set off on a walk through our Hampshire countryside this summer and you'll find yourself on a native wildlife safari of butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles and birds. Why not take a wildlife i.d. book and some binoculars and record your sightings?

Walk on the wild side