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.

Purple emperor butterfly
Walking trail 

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

Top spots for wildlife in Thames and Chilterns 

Search for a few of your favourite beasts this summer through a host of healthy habitats in Thames and Chilterns this summer.

More on spotting wildlife in Thames and Chilterns
Osprey stood on a post

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
New Forest Northern Commons   Hampshire

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.

Discover wildlife in the New Forest this summer
Peregrine flying off the Kent coast

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
close up of an azure damselfly on a leaf

Wildlife wanders in Hampshire 

Set off on a walk through our Hampshire countryside this summer and you'll find yourself on a native wildlife safari. The bogs and mires of the New Forest and chalk downland and wood pasture at Stockbridge and Selborne are home to a myriad butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles and birds. Why not take a wildlife i.d. book and some binoculars and record your sightings?

Plan your wildlife spotting walk