Meet our members: John McCutchan

John McCutchan has been a member of Sussex Wildlife Trust for a remarkable 56 years. 

And even more remarkably, this year, 2025, is the 52nd year that he has been running the enormously popular Arlington Bluebell Walk at Bates Green Farm. What started as a way of helping out his local school to fundraise for an outdoor swimming pool has become an incredible fundraiser, both for the village church (who run a successful plant stall) and many other local charities - a total of 28 this year (and there's a waiting list). It has raised £1,073,487 over the time since he first opened the woods to the public. John also kindly lets Sussex Wildlife Trust have our recruitment stand there.  

My Membership team colleague, Ros Moss, and I went along to chat to him on a stunning spring day. 

He's a lovely man, clearly entirely on top of all operations as well as the many improvements that have been made and are still being made. For example, there are 18 mobility scooters, which are loaned free of charge to those who need them, and there are so many benches along the Bluebell Walk, it's all been thought through beautifully.

As we had a cup of tea in the large café, John told us that he was born in Bates Green cottage itself (now substantially larger than the two up, two down gamekeeper's cottage it was when he was born), in the very room he now uses as a study. He remembers as a boy, seeing local Abbott's Wood (Forestry Commission) covered in Bluebells, "As far as the eye could see". Sadly it's been managed in such a way since, for commercial timber, there are far fewer Bluebells there now. Which is likely why keeping his own Bluebell Wood so well managed is so important. 

John used to have a herd of Sussex Cattle, a flock of sheep and some chickens as well as undertaking some arable farming. These days, at 88, he contents himself with overall management of the Bluebell Walk and opening of Bates Green Garden, in memory of his late wife Carolyn, who was a marvellous gardener. They originally met at Young Farmers. 

It is clear that John gets an enormous amount of pleasure from his many annual visitors: "It is a lot of work, but I enjoy it". He really looks forward to the Bluebell season and welcoming so many returning guests as well as new ones. 

John tells us that, when they first opened, they had no idea how to manage the public. But East Sussex County Council stepped in to advise. It's tricky in some ways. One day they might have 3000 visitors, another, when it's wet, just eight. Which makes it hard to plan for the number of volunteer helpers they need. John is supported in the running of the Bluebell Walk etc by volunteer, Stuart Higgins. How they organise it is to hand over the daily management of the carpark and café to different charities. John has a whole set of clear instructions, systems and procedures to help it all run smoothly. 

What's also on offer for visitors is a second hand bookshop, originally opened and staffed by Sussex Wildlife Trust in 1985 - raising £10,930 for us over the 21 years we ran it (it's now ably run by Carriage Driving for the Disabled). Also a lovely plant stall, organised by the local church. There's a small animal petting area for children too, open during Bluebell time.

Outside Bluebell season, the public are also allowed, by appointment and for a fee, to come and scatter ashes of loved ones. 

This year, the Bluebell Walk is open 4 April - 8 May (heralded, of course, by beautiful white Wood Anemones. When the Walk opens depends on the how the growing season is progressing of course - and as a consequence of climate change, this is now several weeks earlier than it was when John first started the Walk). 

Outside those times, you can visit Bates Green Garden, open 26 February to 22 October. This is now overseen by Head Gardener, Emma Reece, former ballet dancer, who was friends with John's wife, and who brought the garden back to life after Carolyn's death. She manages the garden to be a delight for visitors as well as for the benefit of wildlife. There's a wildflower meadow beyond, John showed us, where he mows a heart-shaped path in the summer for visitors to walk around.

Our visit was early March, and we enjoyed the glorious Wild Daffodils we pass on our way to the Bluebell Wood. These were sown by Carolyn - Wild Daffodils take seven years to grow from seed.  

The woods are managed both for Bluebells and for all wildlife. The trees are coppiced, Bramble is kept at bay, some areas are protected from Deer and Rabbits. There are two ponds as well as mounds of cut wood, which is great for insects.  A Kite flew over our heads at one point and, early in the year as it was, we spotted a number of butterflies. John has erected interpretation boards around the walk that explain the wildlife you might see and hear 

It's a really special place, and it was lovely to have a look around and hear all about. Many thanks to John for being a member for all these years, and for supporting wildlife. I look forward to visiting during Bluebell season.