National Trust, The South Downs, Brighton and Hove Videos

Turn on the sound The Wart-biter Bush-cricket is not only extremely rare, it is incredibly hard to spot. Well camouflaged amongst the grass and plants of the chalk grasslands, it is not sharp eyes you need to identify it, but sharp ears. Most experts rely on hearing its song to know it is there – and to make things even trickier, if it’s a windy day, the male Wart-biter Bush-cricket (who is the one who “sings”) is a reluctant performer. Species such as the Wart-biter have very exacting requirements. They need a diversity of habitat in close proximity, with long grass for males to call from, short-cropped wildflower rich areas to host the abundance of invertebrates they predate and areas of bare ground for females to lay their eggs into. These needs conflict with the requirements of many other important chalk grassland specialist species on the site, some of which need large expanses of short-cropped grassland. The major challenge is that the remaining chalk grassland is so degraded and fragmented, which means species with poor dispersal such as the Wart-biter, which cannot fly, are highly localised and unable to move through the landscape if the habitat changes on a local level as they once did, leaving them at high risk of extinction events. The Wart-biter Bush-cricket has become endangered in the UK in the last century, despite once being relatively widespread in the chalk grassland landscape. You can join Buglife expert Alice Parfitt at Castle Hill National Nature Reserve to learn more about this fascinating insect and the work they are doing as part of #changingchalk to protect the future of the Wart-biter Bush-cricket. We hope you hear them – and maybe even spot some. Changing Chalk is a multi-partner initiative led by the National Trust. Its aim is to restore lost habitats, bring histories to life, and provide new experiences in the outdoors. https://bit.ly/3GBO56C Wart-biter Bush-cricket image ©National Trust Images/Matthew Oates Wart-biter B

Turn on the sound. The skylarks were out in force this morning at Gayles Farm, and the meadow strips are looking fine. Just a few days to go now until our Glorious Gayles Festival 16 July 11am to 4pm Learn about the ancient history of the downs and help with the archaeological test pit and the modern WWII airfield history too. Learn how to knap a flint or go for a trap ride with the gypsy cob pony. Meet the farmer and some of his animals and learn about the farming on this part of the downs or join experts for insect trails and experiences. Free event. (weather permitting! please check for updates on the day) More information here: https://bit.ly/443zWZw Changing Chalk is a multi-partner initiative led by the National Trust. Its aim is to restore lost habitats, bring histories to life, and provide new experiences in the outdoors. Changing Chalk is supported by players of @UKHeritagefund, players of @peoplespostcodelottery and @thelinburytrust #changingchalk #chalkgrassland #sevensisters #biodiversity #wildflowermeadow #summer #gloriousgayles #gaylesfestival #southdownsnationalpark #sussex #whatsoneastbourne

As part of #changingchalk, we have sown a meadow at Gayles Farm. These flowers mark out the old landing strips that were here when this was Friston Airfield. The meadow is starting to look glorious and will provide a biodiverse stepping stone for wildlife to the chalk grassland on the cliffs beyond the farm. Why not come and have a look? Join the Changing Chalk Project partners at Gayles Farm on 16 July to celebrate thousands of years of history from neolithic to WW2 and experience nature and farming in this area. Learn about the ancient history of the downs and help with the archaeological test pit and the modern WWII airfield history too. Learn how to knap a flint or go for a trap ride with the gypsy cob pony. Meet the farmer and some of his animals and learn about the farming on this part of the downs or join experts for insect trails and experiences. Free event. More information here: https://bit.ly/443zWZw Changing Chalk is a multi-partner initiative led by the National Trust. Its aim is to restore lost habitats, bring histories to life, and provide new experiences in the outdoors. Changing Chalk is supported by players of @UKHeritagefund, players of @peoplespostcodelottery and @thelinburytrust #changingchalk #chalkgrassland #sevensisters #biodiversity #wildflowermeadow #spring #gloriousgayles #gaylesfestival #southdownsnationalpark #sussex #whatsoneastbourne

Come and join The Big Dig this weekend 10 - 11 June. There's lots to do in Motcombe Gardens, Eastbourne. Visitors can find out how flint tools are made, find out more about medieval pilgrim badges and how they are forged, travel back in time with some medieval musicians, pick a side in the Civil War with some 17th century soldiers and, for those brave enough – visit the 17th century herbologist for some historic and gruesome medicine. This is just one of many of our #changingchalk projects focused on the Hearts and Histories of the Downs. You can find out more here: https://bit.ly/3GBO56C Changing Chalk is supported thanks to money raised by National Lottery Heritage Fund players, players of People's Postcode Lottery and #thelinburytrust #thebigdig #heritageeastbourne #ntarchaeology #changingchalk #thingstodothisweekend #whatsoneastbourne

From scrub bashing, to fence building; from surveys to connecting with the community and more, the work our volunteers do is rich and varied but takes dedication and hard work. As part of Volunteers’ Week, we’re taking the chance to say thank you to all our Changing Chalk volunteers. It’s thanks to these wonderful people that we can do essential work to conserve the precious habitat of the chalk grasslands on the eastern South Downs. We are so grateful for your support. #changingchalk is a partnership led by the National Trust to ensure a sustainable future for the Downs and includes protecting this wonderful habitat. You can find out more about how to get involved at: bit.ly/43r7two Changing Chalk is supported by players of @HeritageFundUk, Players of @Postcodelottery and @TheLinburyTrust. #changingchalk #volunteersweek #southdowns #sussex #dedication #thanks #thankyou #support #volunteers #volunteering #opportunities #conservation #connections #wellbeinginnature

It’s No Mow May and people across the country are being encouraged to let their lawns and wildflowers flourish. Here on our chalk grasslands we have a special kind of mowing that is essential to encourage our wildflowers to grow – grazing. Managed in the right way, it can improve, maintain and enhance the rare grasslands that we find on the South Downs. The reason chalk grasslands are so biodiverse is that, because the grass is kept short, finer plants are given a competitive edge. Also, nutrients are taken out of the soil allowing for plants that grow in poorer soils to thrive. Grazing also helps to keep the scrub under control so it doesn’t encroach on the grasslands. Grazers could be sheep, cattle, ponies or even rabbits who help to keep the sward short. We’re not talking about constant year-round grazing, but lighter conservation grazing that is managed with the seasons. Traditionally this was done for thousands of years by farmers, but more and more land has been ploughed and fertilised and we have lost 80% of our grass chalklands since the end of WW2. Left ungrazed, rank grasses take over and we lose the precious biodiversity of the chalk grasslands – not just the flowers, but yellow meadow ants would no longer be warmed in their anthills by the sun and with no yellow meadow ants, no one would protect the pupae of the blue Adonis butterfly. The chalk grasslands are home to over 40 species of flowering plants and 29 species of butterflies, and are among the most biodiverse habitats on the planet. Working with local communities and focussing on the iconic chalk grassland landscape of the South Downs, Changing Chalk is restoring lost habitats, bringing histories to life, and offering new experiences in the outdoors. Find out more about our work here: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/the-changing-chalk-partnership Changing Chalk is supported by the @HeritageFundUk and players of @peoplespostcodelottery and The Linbury Trust.

High up on the South Downs, between the Seven Sisters cliffs and the A259, sits Gayles Farm. From 1936 to 1946 this was the site of Friston Airfield, an RAF site during the Second World War, and then home to Friston Gliding Club from 1946 until 1955. It’s now an arable farm but, from above, you can still make out the old runways and landing strips. The land was acquired by the National Trust in 2015, and now it’s part of the #changingchalk project. This land forms part of the Seaford to Beachy Head Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which contains areas of chalk grassland in various states of condition, some good, some not so good. We are hoping to restore some of the farming land to grassland and to create two flowering pollinator strips on the old WW2 runways. This will create an important buffer for the existing SSSI and provide a steppingstone for chalk grassland invertebrates and plants. Last September we seeded the land with its herbal ley and wildflower seed - all 50 hectares or 70 football pitches of it. We’re now waiting to see what wildflowers begin to bloom. We’re hoping it will be a dramatic landscape change. We’ll keep you posted on what emerges and watch this space for news of a festival at Gayles on Sunday 16 July that will celebrate the cultural heritage and biodiversity of the place. #changingchalk is a partnership led by the National Trust to ensure a sustainable future for the Downs and is supported by @heritagefunduk, @peoplespostcodelottery and #TheLinburyTrust. 🎥 copyright National Trust Images/Green TV 📷 copyright National Trust Images/ Josie Jeffery and Hannah Pickard

Who knew a National Trust mug would be so versatile? Last week at our Countryside Skills Sessions we used one to scatter some extra seeds on our flower meadow at Gayle’s Farm in East Sussex. We also did reptile surveys and took in the glorious views. This was our eighth and last session of the first cohort and we are so proud of everyone who took part and all that they learned. The second cohort will be starting in June and is aimed at people who are aged 16-25 and not in employment, education or training, if you are interested in signing up, please email [email protected] The countryside skills sessions are part of #changingchalk “Find Your Future” to engage young people living on the urban fringe of the Southdown's and facilitate wellbeing, education and career opportunities. Changing Chalk is supported by @HeritageFundUk, @Postcodelottery and @TheLinburyTrust. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/.../the-changing-chalk... #changingchalk #findyourfuture #countrysideskills #countryside #skillsforlife #employability #training #wellbeinginnature #chalkgrasslands

Turn on the volume to hear the striking song of this iconic bird of open grassland landscapes and look carefully for the tiny bird, the skylark, so high in the skies, singing so loud. It's so-named for its habit of singing on the wing as it reaches heights of up to 300m (1000ft), hovering briefly, fluttering its wings, before plummeting downwards. Skylarks can stay in the air, singing their ceaseless bubbling, cascading song for up to an hour at a time. Despite their lofty name, Skylarks nest on the ground between April and August and like tussocky grassland where they can have up to four broods in a season. They are a quintessential part of our chalk grasslands, providing the soundtrack of the Downs. Skylarks are on the red list and their numbers are in rapid decline. Our work to preserve the chalk grasslands of the South Downs will help provide a habitat for them to continue to nest and breed and find food for their young. #changingchalk #skylark #birdsofthechalkgrasslands #changingchalk is a partnership led by the National Trust to ensure a sustainable future for the Downs and is supported by @HeritageFundUk, @Postcodelottery and @TheLinburyTrust. Skylark image copyright@ National Trust Images/Nick Upton

A great day out was had by all at Devil’s Dyke this Saturday when we were joined by students from the Institute of Development Studies from @sussexuni. It was great to introduce them to the Downs – their heritage, their biodiversity and how people have shaped them over the years. Highlights of the day? Seeing the Bronze Age axe head that had been found on nearby Wolstonbury Hill and hearing about the yellow meadow ant and chalkhill blue butterfly. Through the #changingchalk project, we hope to run many events over the next three years that will help people learn more and understand more about this wonderful landscape and work towards creating a sustainable future for the South Downs. Go to https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/the-changing-chalk-partnership to see how to get involved. In partnership with National Lottery Heritage Fund and People's Postcode Lottery.

We are half way through the Countryside Skills Sessions programme, and thought we would share this brilliant video from week 4. It was freezing cold, but the participants kept warm by working hard! This is part of an 8-week programme offering opportunities to young people aged 16-25 to attend a variety of activities and learn about archaeology and habitat management, gain skills, make friends and spend time getting to know the South Downs. This activity was called 'I like your stile'! A stile, that was kindly made by a volunteer, was decorated by the group and installed up on Southwick Hill in replacement of a stile that has been well used and come to the end of its days. An excellent contribution to improving access to the chalk grassland for all to enjoy. The group also painted reptile mats in preparation for a reptile survey at the end of the month, which will be the final activity of this cohort. If you would like to find out more about the programme please email [email protected]. #changingchalk #southdowns #youngpeople #learnsomethingnew Changing Chalk is supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund and players of People's Postcode Lottery.

On Southwick Hill we've found some lovely areas of flower-rich chalk grassland being kept open by rabbit grazing. The heat-loving Silver-spotted Skipper is restricted to this close cropped chalk grassland habitat in southern England. We saw 30+ yesterday! #changingchalk Changing Chalk is led by the National Trust and is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and People's Postcode Lottery

Welcoming some more new lambs on this beautiful April morning #southdowns #spring #lambs #lambing #conservationgrazing #nationaltrust

Today is Dawn Chorus Day. Our (VERY committed!) ranger Gabby got up at 4.30am this morning to welcome the day with this beautiful symphony of bird song at our Northwood site on the Slindon Estate. Thanks for getting up at this time Gabby so we didn’t have to! #dawnchorus #birdsong #slindon #northwood #sussex #southdowns #earlybird

A lovely early morning cuckoo calling from the distance. Taking small pleasures in these uncertain times ❤️

Happy Earth Day! And to celebrate here’s a lovely morning video of one of our beautiful South Downs bluebell woods. We’re still looking after our special places so you can all enjoy them again in the future

It snowing seafoam again at Birling Gap today. (the video doesn't do it justice)

Switch off. Take a breath. Nature is waiting for you.