Friends of Chichester Harbour
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Latest News |
Scarecrow Festival 26 July to 9 Aug - 246 entries dotted around Hayling Island. For a Trail Sheet and their locations call at Stoke Farm Shop or see website After £30m of modifications Southern Water wastewater treatment sites at Thornham, Bosham and Apuldram are now operational and strip out nutrients from the discharge into the harbour to meet stringent new regulations. 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. August Wildlife and recipe - 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
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AUGUST WILDLIFE |
Migrating waders arriving to winter here become a steady stream in August, some still in their flashy summer plumage. Look out for Curlews, Whimbrel, Redshank, Godwits, Turnstone and Grey Plover. You may see Greenshanks fitted with rings as part of the Conservancy’s Migration Story www.greenshank.info. In the quieter wooded parts of the AONB you will see young Roe deer, bigger and a little bolder as they venture further to feed. In the harbour waters, shoals of mackerel may reach the inner areas of the harbour such as Sweare Deep. The harbour’s Common Seals can be seen hunting throughout the harbour in August. Appreciate the vivid patches of purple as sea lavender blooms in the saltmarsh. For most saltmarsh plants this is the final flowering month of the year. The shop page has guides to identify flora and fauna as you walk the shore. |
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
