2026 summer wildlife fair on 31 july, 11am-2pm !
Wildlife
The Old Brickfield is home to many small mammals, reptiles, insects and rare habitat. At the south end of the field there are remnants of vegetated shingle, rare salt marsh and many grasses and plants that offer shelter from the harsh sea wind to the creatures that live there.
Depending on the season, you may spot a kestrel swooping down to the field in search of shrews, voles, and field mice that nest among the sea couch grass, false oat grass, and plants such as tree mallow, sea-purslane, and rare sea heath. In warmer weather, lizards, slow worms, and even a grass snake can be seen basking in the sun amongst the butterflies and the splashes of pink, purple, and white of tree mallows, toadflax, thrift, and vetches dotted across the field. The steep slope offers good cover for nesting birds and small mammals. A drainage tunnel near the railway connects the Brickfield to another local wildlife site known as The Dip. Frogs and toads and the occasional duck live in the small pond by the railway embankment.
Throughout the year, we record some of the different wildlife that live on the field. This year, we are counting the birds, butterflies and reptiles.
