Surveying the wildlife
Surveying the flora and fauna on the Steyning Downland Scheme area is an ongoing activity. The Botanical records indicate that there are at least 54 rare species, 10 of which are endangered in the UK.
Extensive botanical surveying has already been carried out on the site, and is recorded in the Sussex Bio-diversity record. Surveying will continue over the area during the life of the project.
Volunteers are currently undertaking the botanical surveying, co-ordinated by the Estate’s Head Gardener. Those involved include Environmental Studies students from the University of Brighton and Steyning Grammar School. The Sussex Ornithological Society are carrying out surveys on the land, as are the Butterfly Conservation Group, and they are happy to engage with the project and share their data.
The Sussex Bio-Diversity record and Kew Gardens’ regional botanical data is being used to guide the survey.