Registered Charity No 259211 The Chichester Natural History Society, Chi Nats for short, is a friendly group of local people with a shared interest in all aspects of wildlife, who have been studying and recording all branches of natural history for over 50 years. We do this in an entertaining manner and, in cooperation with other like-minded groups, help conserve the flora and fauna of Sussex. Members of the Society share a common interest in natural history and while some are experts in particular wildlife fields, others are newcomers to the subject. New members are always welcome - Single membership £12 per annum, Joint/Family Membership £22 per annum.
Contact email secretary@chinats.org.uk Autumn/winter 2025-26Tuesday 11th November: Field Outing: Dell Quay Bird Walk. 10.00 am.
Wednesday 3rd December, 19:15/19;30: Christmas Party and Photography Competition.
Friday 5th December. Field Outing: RSPB Pulborough Brooks. 10.00 am
Wednesday 25th February 2026: Chichester Harbour Birdwatching Trip: outing on the Solar Heritage boat, (10:30 am) followed by fish and chip lunch.
Phenology - the 2025 season of recording has ended. Click below to open/download.
2024 results
2023 results
Facebook
See our new Facebook group for members' wildlife sightings. Join the group and upload your own sightings.
iRecord
ChiNATs has started to use iRecord to record our sightings on field outings. You can also use it to submit any wildlife sightings of your own. Find out more here on the ChiNATS iRecord guide or see the iRecord website.
ChiNats Photography Competition - The John Kelsall Challenge 2025
We are running the photography competition again in 2025.
The natural history themes for your photos this year are:
• A Show of Colour
• Wings
• On the Down
So, start looking out for those perfect photos now!
Rules - the small print
You can enter a maximum of one photo into each category. You do not need to enter more than one category if you don’t want to.
All photos to be taken in Sussex (or southeast Hampshire).
All photos should be size 7” x 5”.
The photos will be displayed at the ChiNats Christmas Party on 3rd December 2025.
Members will vote for their favourite photo in each category.
There will be a prize winner in each category plus an overall winner of the John Kelsall Challenge.
Please bring along your photos, together with a card/caption for each including the subject and where the photo was taken.
ChiNats Junior Photography Competition 2025
For children, grandchildren or other young relatives of ChiNats members aged 16 and under.
This gives you the chance to encourage your young relatives to gain an interest in wildlife and photography and take a photograph to enter the competition.
The theme is any aspect of natural history/wildlife/plant/animal.
The photos can be taken anywhere in Britain.
The juniors should write a very short explanation to accompany their photos of what they have photographed and where.
 Medmerry Surveyors amongs the Oxeye daisies EventsField outings, small groups led by some of our experts, are arranged throughout the year to various wildlife locations in West Sussex. Lecture evenings are held regularly in Chichester over the winter, while lunchtime sessions in a local pub allow a small group to focus on a particular aspect of nature. more  Wildlife SightingsIn addition to our formal surveys we encourage our members to record wildlife wherever they see it. Sightings can be posted on our facebook page or uploaded to iRecord. more ReportsOn our field trips we encounter a wide range of wildlife and many of our members are keen wildlife photographers.
more Chichester Flora field report added, with plant list
Pagham Field report added
Bepton Field report added
2025 Mothing Mornings added
Photographic Competition details added
2025 Indoor Lecture Programme added Any questions on the website please send an email to website@chinats.org.uk
The blog allows you to log wildlife sightings and comment on those put up by other members - please use it.
We still need to keep the sightings book so please enter any observations in the sightings book on lecture evenings.
We would welcome more photos for the site from members
Below is shown number of visitors to the site from April 2017.
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