On 29 January local ecologist Graeme Lyons did a survey of spiders on the reserve and was very excited by what he found. Results included Rhysodromus histrio, a large spider on mature heaths, known in Sussex only from West Sussex heaths and Ashdown Forest (photo below). And even better, Centromerus cavernarum, a new species for Graeme and for East Sussex (which was last recorded in the far west of West Sussex in 1998). That was Graeme's 542nd UK spider! He found other nationally scarce species proving that the heathland restoration at Broadwater has provided some great habitat, not only for birds, but also for insects as well. If you'd like to read Graeme's account of his visit here's a link to his brilliant website https://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2024/01/theres-nothing-quite-like-smell-of.html
Wealden Reserves Office Manager