This survey was planned for 2020 but cancelled due to government restrictions. The intention now is for this survey to run in 2021 dependent on restrictions. Planning and preparation are going ahead as normal. All volunteers for this survey will be expected to observe all government restrictions and guidelines.

In 2021 the BTO and RSPB will be jointly running a national survey of breeding waders in wet meadows. This will be a repeat of the 2002 survey, requiring visits to the sites surveyed in 2002 and with the inclusion of any new wet grassland sites that have been identified. In addition, a sample of farmland sites with specific agri-environment scheme options in place (wet grassland management and lapwing plots) will also be surveyed. This survey will primarily be organised in Sussex by Helen Crabtree (BTO Regional Representative for Sussex); surveys of RSPB sites will be organised by RSPB staff.

In Sussex the wet grassland sites to be surveyed for which volunteers are still being sought (updated 10/3/2021) are as follows:

Adur Levels (multiple sites)
Snow Hill (East Head)
North Stoke to Houghton
Arundel to Offham
Pevensey (Wallers Haven South)
Pevensey (Manxey Level South)
Pevensey (Manxey Level North)
Brede Levels (multiple sites)
Tillingham Valley (Rye)

The first-priority selected farmland sites with wet grassland management and/or lapwing plots for which volunteers are still being sought (updated 10/3/2021) are as follows:

SU9915 Bignor Park
TQ2714 nr Hurstpierpoint
TQ3807 Swanborough Hill
TQ3930 nr Horsted Keynes
TQ6916 Penhurst
TQ7013 nr Ninfield
TQ9719 Camber

Lower-priority selected farmland sites with wet grassland management and/or lapwing plots for which volunteers are still being sought (updated 10/3/2021) are as follows:

SU7909 nr Funtington
SU8314 Chilgrove
SU9216 Graffham Down
SU9312 Upwaltham Hill
SU9420 Selham
SU9429 Northchapel
SZ8899 Pagham Rife
TQ0008 nr Arundel
TQ0306 nr Warningcamp
TQ0508 nr Burpham
TQ0627 nr Billingshurst
TQ0705 nr Angmering
TQ0807 Patching Hill
TQ0909 Blackpatch Hill
TQ1210 nr Findon
TQ1209 nr Findon
TQ1414 nr Ashington
TQ1609 Steyning Bowl
TQ3310 nr Stanmer
TQ3904 nr Telscombe
TQ3909 nr Lewes
TQ4004 nr Telscombe
TQ4306 nr Rodmell
TQ4738 nr Hartfield
TQ5033 nr Friar’s Gate
TQ6712 nr Boreham Street
TQ7624 nr Bodiam
TQ8325 Northiam
TQ8719 Udimore

The survey will require three visits between the middle of April and the end of June to map the locations of displaying or breeding waders. Simple habitat and land management measures will also be recorded during the fieldwork. Surveyors will need to be able to identify common wader species (lapwings, redshank, snipe and oystercatcher) by sight and sound, and also to be familiar with display and territorial behaviour. Please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer to survey one of the sites listed above or would like more information.