Local residents will be able to come face-to-face with some fascinating animals, reptiles, insects and birds at the Wild About Mid Sussex event on Saturday 4 June 2016.
Held on the first day of Burgess Hill Summer Festival, ‘Wild About Mid Sussex’ is a free wildlife exhibition celebrating the wonderful countryside that surrounds the towns and villages of Mid Sussex. It’s a fun day out for the whole family and provides a great opportunity to discover more about local wildlife and how to protect it.
Open from 10.00 am – 4.00 pm, Wild About Mid Sussex brings a host of creatures, both native and exotic, to a huge marquee in St. John’s Park, Burgess Hill. There’s a chance to see live owls, stag beetles, bees, bats, tree frogs, pythons and lizards, including a very friendly giant rhino iguana.
The Buzz Club will be on hand to share the work it is doing to protect native wild bees in Mid Sussex and there will be opportunities to find out more about local and national conservation groups and universities.
‘Wild About Mid Sussex’ is organised by the ‘Friends of Burgess Hill Green Circle’ group, in partnership with Mid Sussex District Council.
The Friends of Burgess Hill Green Circle are a band of several hundred volunteers who work to protect the countryside around Burgess Hill. With the support of Mid Sussex District Council, West Sussex County Council and Burgess Hill Town Council, they work to connect Burgess Hill’s green spaces together using safe, traffic-free routes. This helps the local wildlife to move between areas safely and makes it easier for local people to enjoy the varied habitats and the wonderful landscape that they create.
“Wild About Mid Sussex is a fantastic family event and is the perfect way to kick-off the Burgess Hill Summer Festival 2016,” said Councillor Pru Moore, MSDC Cabinet Member for Leisure and Sustainability. “There are lots of fun activities for young children and it’s great for people of all ages to get the chance to handle local wildlife, as well as some exotic creatures from further afield.
“It’s free to enter so I hope people come along to discover more about the wonderful wildlife that’s right on our doorstep.”
For more information about the ‘Wild About Mid Sussex’ exhibition, please visit
www.bh-green-circle.org.uk, contact the Mid Sussex District Council Landscapes team on 01444 477439 or email parksopenspaces@midsussex.gov.uk.
