CELEBRATE the wildflowers and grassland of the South Downs with the National Trust on Saturday, July 1.
Head to Harting Down for the National Meadows Day event, from 2pm to 4pm, where you can find out about the rich diversity of plants and insects on this special chalk grassland.
Take part in a plant survey, make your own herbarium and go on a bug hunt, with volunteers and rangers.
Once part of our farming heritage, grasslands are now vastly diminished so this is a chance to explore this one more.
Meet at Harting Down car park at 2pm, off the B2141 between South Harting and Chilgrove.
There are also events on Saturday at Bignor Top, from 10am to 4pm, where there are plant surveys, face painting, guided walks and more; and at Frog Firle Farm in the Cuckmere Valley where there is meadow sweeping on the flood plain for bugs with rangers from 2pm to 4pm.
National Trust ranger Fiona Scully says: “The diversity of the flowers and sheer number of insects and reptiles found everywhere to cities to village greens, wildlife reserves, gardens, allotments and farms is incredible. National Meadows Day aims to help increase awareness of this important habitat and all its associated wildlife by increasing understanding through fun and family-friendly activities.”
For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk