“The Moulsecoomb allotment nature site acts as an important part of the “green corridor” linking the wild areas that run down from the hills above Bevendean and Whitehawk . This allows wildlife to move around in search of shelter, breeding and food relatively easily within the urban environment. The site offers excellent habitat for a wide range of creatures in an increasingly busy city.”
Huw Morgan, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Brighton & Hove Project officer
The steps down to the Nature Site lead from the car park outside the shop. There are benches to sit on, and paths to take you round the different habitat areas. We started to create the Nature Site in 2015 on a fairly small patch of ground and we have expanded it to around 3,200 sq metres (3,800 sq yds).
You are very welcome to visit the site, but please bear in mind that it is a reserve for wild creatures and plants that are increasingly under threat. So, please, no barbecues, no dogs and no rubbish. Thank you!
For more information about the Nature Site please contact mahsnaturesite@gmail.com
Watch the new large pond: in summer you’ll see dragonflies, damsel flies, and maybe a frog or a lizard on the warm rock pile. You may see a bat catching flies over the pond on a summer evening. There’s a small pond too inhabited by frogs.
Look out for the many birds that feed and nest in the brambles. Keep an eye on the larger trees as well – you will see 3 species of Tits, Robins, Blackbirds, and Goldfinches feeding on the berries and insects.
The Damson scrub is a really good place to see some rarer birds such as Goldcrest and Firecrest. You’ll have to watch carefully – they are tiny birds and flit very fast through the branches, usually up high, catching insects.
Butterflies, bees and many other insects are all attracted to the wildflower banks either side of the main path. May and June is a good time to see these in full flower and trees blossom too.
The Goat willows by the ‘Nature Site’ sign are a wonderful sight in early spring when they flower and attract hundreds of bees. You may be lucky enough to see a ‘pollen blizzard’ too.
Look closely for fungi and lichens on twigs and on dead branches and logs, especially in autumn and winter.
A work group meets monthly to develop and maintain the site. Since 2015 we have gradually added lots more native trees, more wildflowers and created areas of different habitat.
An annual count of plants, birds and butterflies shows we are increasing the number of different species on the site each year.
The latest news about the site with photos can be found on our Nature Notes page
You can read a Review of our 7th Year (2021-22) Nature Site report -AGM 2022
What plants and animals are on the Nature Site?
You can read or download a pdf of our records:
- an Inventory of plants Plant species sightings to 2020
- a record of birds Bird Species sighted to 2020
- a record of butterflies and moths Butterfly & Moth sightings to 2020
- a record of other insects, reptiles & pond life sightings Insects, Reptiles & pond life to 2020
- a record of mammals Mammal species sightings to 2020
How do we manage the site?
We have a detailed plan for creating and maintaining different habitats to support a wide range of flowers, insects, birds and other ‘creatures’.
- Managing flower meadows on our Nature Site
- Mowing chart by month Nov 2021
- Meadow mowing plan A (East)
- Meadow mowing Plan B (West)
- Butterflies on our Nature Site and their habitats, with photo ID
For a list of websites about the natural world, including guides to identfying species Wildlife websites
Want to join the workgroup?
10.30am till lunch on the First Saturday of each month (weather permitting).
We welcome anybody from the allotment site, also your friends, and you don’t need to commit to coming regularly. Email Liz or Dave at mahsnaturesite@gmail.com if you’re interested.
The Nature Site 125,000 years ago?
What was the land here like over 125,000 years ago? Which animals and humans inhabited this corner of England, perhaps even this nature site? To get an idea of the changes up to the present day, visit Nature past and present?
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