Guided day’s birding: Knepp Rewilding Project & RSPB Pulborough Brooks

We are an RSPB Local Group, based in London, that promotes an interest in and understanding of birds in particular and wildlife in general, including their habitats and environment: we support the work of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

RSPB Central London Local Group

Coach trip and guided day’s birding at the Knepp Rewilding Project &amp; RSPB Pulborough Brooks nature reserve, West Sussex.

Embankment station

Coach Trips

Our coach trips take you on full-day visits to some of the best birdwatching sites in England. Each trip also includes an optional guided walk led by one of our more experienced members. All are welcome to join us.

In the morning we will visit the pioneering rewilding project at the Knepp Estate in Sussex. A dairy farm until 2001, it is being allowed to ‘revert back to nature’ with minimal management, yielding spectacular results for wildlife. Rapidly disappearing species such as nightingale and turtle dove (in summer) are thriving, there is a burgeoning white stork reintroduction, and impressive moth and butterfly populations including in July/August purple emperors. <a href="https://knepp.co.uk/rewilding/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Click here</a> for further information on the Knepp Rewilding Project.

At lunchtime, we will head to the nearby RSPB Pulborough Brooks reserve: it has woodland, water meadows and heath. Located within the Arun Valley, Pulborough Brooks has beautiful views across to the South Downs and is set in one of the richest areas for nature in the country. Experience a stunning chorus as its resident birds – the blackbirds, song thrushes and wrens – are joined by a host of warblers and the nightingale as the season progresses. Usually, Pulborough's nightingales serenade visitors both day and night from mid-April and through May.Further details about this reserve are available on the RSPB's <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/pulborough-brooks/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">website</a>.Species: nightingale (possible), white stork, sedge and willow warblers, common and lesser whitethroat, woodland species, swallows and martins, kingfisher, skylark, shelduck, curlew, redshank, ringed plover.Entry fees: Knepp – Donations welcome. Pulborough – £ 4 per adult, RSPB Members Free.Facilities: (Pulborough) toilets, visitor centre, shop, café and hides.

Things to note:<ul><li>Coaches will depart from Stop 40B on the Embankment at 8am sharp.</li><li>Aim to be at the Embankment by 7.45am to allow time to board the coach and stow your gear.</li><li>Unless you are exempt, we would encourage you to consider wearing a mask while on the coach to minimise the risk of COVID transmission while in an enclosed space.</li><li>Bring clothes for all weathers.</li><li>Don’t forget your binoculars (and scope if you have one)!</li><li>Bring a packed lunch. While the café has meals and refreshments available for purchase, those who wish to bird with the group leaders should plan on eating lunch in one of the hides.</li><li>We will aim to leave the reserve at 5pm. The visitor centre and shop are open until 5pm (as are the toilets) but the café closes at 4pm. </li></ul>

If possible, please book by Tuesday 4th April. We may have to cancel this trip if we have not received sufficient bookings by this date. So do not delay, book now, if you would like to join us on this trip to these amazing places.Full refunds will be offered in the unfortunate event that we are forced to cancel the trip.Images: The Knepp Estate <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_ellery/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">© Matt Ellery</a>, White Stork - Knepp <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/picgaz/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">© Steer Photographic</a>, Lapwing and View across the North Brooks towards Pulborough <a href="https://www.rspb-images.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">© RSPB Images</a>.The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity in England and Wales no. 207076 and in Scotland no. SC037654.