Friends of Chichester Harbour
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Latest News |
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Guided Walks, Activities and Boat Trips pamphlet for April 08 to April 09 and Harbour News & Guide 2008 are both now available from the Harbour Office, Itchenor. May Wildlife - see below |
Chichester Harbour is uniquely attractive. With the rolling hills of the South Downs as a backdrop, the narrow harbour entrance breaks into four channels spread out like the fingers of a hand. Scattered around the shoreline are seven picturesque, vibrant villages. Its forty-seven miles of shoreline remain remarkably natural and clear of development. It is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Its habitat of estuarine mud, saltmarsh, reed beds, marsh grass and farmland support a large variety of wildlife. Its waters are home to fifty species of fish and marine life.
The harbour has the highest density of wetland birds in the UK.
The distinctly different habitats favour many species of butterflies, moths and insects, some immigrants from more Mediterranean climes. Half of the current list of British Large Moths is found here.
Amongst the mosaic of habitats, enthusiasts can find one of the greatest variety of plant species in a comparable area.
Though protected by National, European and International legislation, pressures on successful survival are ever increasing.
The Friends of Chichester Harbour need a strong membership to help preserve this unique area for future generations.
We are a registered charity, formed in 1987 concerned solely with sustaining and improving the environment of the harbour for the benefit of all users - both people and wildlife.
We support Chichester Harbour Conservancy in various practical ways, and help financially too – giving financial support towards care and improvement of the harbour environment. We are also represented on the Conservancy's advisory governing body.
If you appreciate the pleasures of Chichester Harbour why not join us as a Friend of Chichester Harbour. Our growing membership of over 3,000 people, includes sailors, fishermen, walkers, naturalists, wildfowlers, local residents and visitors and is open to any person interested in the well being of Chichester Harbour.
We need YOU
Awarded Freedom of the Harbour for outstanding conservation work
Three species of Tern visit the harbour in summer, Common, Little and Sandwich laying their eggs on shingle. Watch out for the tall, slim, grey bird with a plumed head, the heron, standing motionless at the waters edge. May is the start of the closed season for fishing for Bass and this extends until October. The harbour is an important nursery for Sea Bass. Cuttlefish also come into the harbour to breed in late spring. Hawthorn and blackthorn burst with white flowers in late spring and support many species of bees and caterpillars. Early flowering wild plants are Thrift, Curled Dock, Stinking Iris and Violet |
c/o Harbour Office, Itchenor, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 7AW
email: info@friendsch.org
Registered Charity No: 1051162
This is the area of Chichester Harbour - click on it for larger version
Below shows our location in the UK
Itchenor
Northney
Emsworth
