Supporting veterans through wildlife

Meeting moths at Rocks Farm

Veterans’ Growth is a Sussex-based charity dedicated to supporting ex-service personnel experiencing mental health challenges. The charity is based at Rocks Farm and enjoys beautiful Sussex farmland, in the heart of the High Weald.

Through nature-based activities, Veterans’ Growth helps people build confidence, develop skills and reconnect with the world around them.

The team applied to the Nature and Community Fund (then Sussex Lund) for funding to run a series of eight moth trapping and identification events at Rocks Farm, led by a local ecologist.

Opening up the hidden world of moths

The events brought together veterans and members of the wider community, creating a welcoming, inclusive environment where people could learn side by side.  Participants were introduced to the wide diversity of moth species present at Rocks Farm, helping to open up the often-overlooked world of invertebrates and highlight their importance within the wider ecosystem.

The project also created a valuable baseline record of moth species on the site, contributing to a clearer understanding of local biodiversity and informing future habitat management.

This knowledge will not only benefit Rocks Farm itself, but can also be shared with neighbouring landowners and conservation partners in the High Weald to support wider biodiversity gains.

Learning, confidence and community

The combination of expert guidance and hands-on learning created a supportive environment where people could engage at their own pace, and the events were popular with families and children, as well as the veterans involved.

For those taking part, the opportunity to take part in structured outdoor activity with a clear purpose was particularly valuable. Handling equipment, identifying species and contributing to real ecological monitoring helped build confidence and a sense of achievement, while the calm, shared experience of being outdoors supported wellbeing in a meaningful way.

Working alongside a professional local ecologist meant that the sessions were both scientifically robust and accessible, while the seasonal programme allowed participants to see how moth populations change over time.

A long term commitment

This project marked the beginning of a longer-term commitment to ecological monitoring and engagement at Rocks Farm which is still ongoing, with regular free ‘meet the moths’ drop-in  events on the farm for local families.   

With equipment now in place,  new skills developed, and important relationships built, Veterans’ Growth plans to build on the success of the project and continue running similar activities in the future.

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