Saturday 8th Nov. 2025, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. in the Isabel Blackman Centre
Bees and the Recovering Rare Bees in Hastings Project, with Andy Phillips

Hastings is an exceptional urban area for bees with a diversity of botanically rich grasslands,
wetlands and woodland. The exposed sandstone outcrops and soft rock cliff & undercliff habitats of
Bulverhythe, Hastings Castle and Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve provide habitat for some of
the rarest bees in the UK. This talk gives an overview of the bees of Hastings and the recent bee
conservation work carried out by Groundwork South.
Andy Phillips has nearly three decades experience studying invertebrate ecology and currently
specialises in urban ecology and wasps. His previous roles have included the Sussex Biodiversity
Officer, Sussex Spider Recorder and Hastings Local Nature Reserve Officer but now works as a
freelance Consultant Ecologist working on projects for Natural England, wildlife trusts, local
authorities, RHS, National Trust, University of London, private landowners and charitable trusts.