This is a good time of the year to consider taking part in the BTO Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), because if you take on a square you will also have the option to take part in both the BTO Winter Bird Survey (WINBS) (starting 15 September 2025) and the Sussex Winter Bird Survey (SWBS) (starting 1 November 2025) by surveying the same square over the coming winter. Some squares have recently become available and there are plenty of squares available right across the county; some of these squares are accessible if you have limited mobility or if you are reliant on or choose to use public transport.
This national monitoring scheme is administered by the BTO and jointly funded by the BTO, JNCC and RSPB. It has been running since 1994 and its primary aim is to provide population trends for common and widespread bird species in the UK. Population trends for Sussex are also produced and published in the Sussex Bird Report. Survey plots are randomly-selected 1-km squares and the same squares are surveyed each year. Volunteers visit their squares three times each year during the breeding season, once to record simple habitat data, and twice to walk a fixed route, recording birds seen and heard. There are more than 200 BBS squares across Sussex, covering every type of habitat, and new volunteers are always needed.
Volunteers must be able to recognise common and widespread birds by sight and sound, and must be able to physically get around a survey route reasonably early in the morning, but beyond those requirements absolutely anybody is welcomed into this survey scheme. Previous experience of survey work is not necessary and help and support from experienced volunteers can be arranged if required; there will also be some informal practice sessions arranged in Sussex in March and April 2026. Finally there is no requirement to conduct surveys alone – take a friend with you!
The BBS squares (asterisks indicate priority squares that have been surveyed before) in Sussex which currently need volunteers for this coming winter and the 2026 breeding season are (updated 5/9/2025):
SU7800 near West Itchenor*
SU7802 Cobnor Point*
SU8102 near Bosham Hoe*
SU8605 central Chichester*
SU8615 Westdean Woods*
SU9113 near East Dean*
SU9729 near Northchapel*
SU9923 near Petworth*
SZ7996 East Wittering*
SZ8199 near Birdham
SZ8698 Sidlesham*
TQ0109 Arundel Park*
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ0322 near Codmore Hill*
TQ0324 near Wisborough Green
TQ0826 Billingshurst
TQ0918 West Chiltington*
TQ1031 near Slinfold*
TQ1114 Washington Common*
TQ1323 Dragon’s Green*
TQ1531 Broadbridge Heath*
TQ1606 near Steep Down*
TQ2515 near Albourne*
TQ2536 Gossops Green
TQ2638 Langley Green*
TQ4233 Broadstone Warren*
TQ4612 near Ringmer*
TQ4938 near Blackham*
TQ5023 Buxted*
TQ5026 High Hurstwood
TQ5128 near Crowborough*
TQ5212 Golden Cross
TQ5220 Blackboys*
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5619 near Heathfield
TQ5639 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ6000 Eastbourne Upperton*
TQ6817 near Penhurst
TQ7811 Hollington*
TQ8023 near Northiam
TQ8413 near Three Oaks*
TQ8414 near Three Oaks*
The following BBS squares may be accessible to you if you have limited mobility (including using a wheelchair) as the survey routes are entirely on pavements and minor roads:
SU8605 central Chichester
SZ7996 East Wittering
TQ2638 Langley Green
TQ4612 near Ringmer
TQ5639 Tunbridge Wells
The following BBS squares may be accessible by train as they are close to rail stations (other squares may be easily accessible by bus):
SU8605 central Chichester
TQ5023 Buxted
TQ5228 near Crowborough
TQ5435 near Eridge Station
TQ5738 Tunbridge Wells
TQ6000 Eastbourne Upperton
For further information, please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com.
