25/01/2008 by admin.

Four days walking some of the most scenic footpaths in West Sussex and Hampshire is on offer in this year’s Festival of Harbour Walks. The selection of walks will take in most of Chichester and Langstone Harbours.The Festival of Harbour Walks is now in its fourth year. This year walkers can enjoy the challenge of completing 36 miles of the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty shoreline and 11 miles around Langstone Harbour. However, it’s not all hard work, the paths take in stunning coastal scenery and the ever changing tide means that the view will constantly shift throughout the day as the tide comes in over the mudflats and saltmarsh.Starting on the 12 May, walkers can enjoy the sand dunes of East Head before heading up the eastern shoreline of Chichester Harbour ending at Fishbourne. The following day (13 May) the walk will start at Nutbourne and cover the 13 miles back to Fishbourne via Chidham and Bosham. To complete the Chichester Harbour section on the 14 May, walkers will start at Nutbourne and follow the shoreline path around Thorney Island, through Emsworth and across Langstone Bridge. Back at Northney they will be welcomed with a tea party to celebrate three full days of walking. The final day of the Festival (15 May), walkers can compare harbours by crossing over to Langstone Harbour and walking the 11 miles from Ferry Point, through Farlington Marshes Nature Reserve and back along the old oyster beds.Judi Darley who will be leading the Chichester Harbour walks said, ‘I’m really looking forward to this year’s Festival. May is a lovely time to walk around our local shorelines and get the most from our Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Festival means that like-minded walkers can enjoy each others company whilst also taking time to enjoy the views and learn a little more about our two harbours.’Walkers can book one or more of the Festival walks. Walks are charged per day to cover transport costs and range from £5 - £10. Where possible breaks have been arranged at local sailing clubs.Full details are available on the homepage at www.conservancy.co.uk or from the Harbour Office at Itchenor please email allie@conservancy.co.uk . Chichester Harbour Conservancy
Harbour Office
Itchenor
Chichester
PO20 7AW
T: 01243 512301
W: www.conservancy.co.uk 

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24/01/2008 by admin.

 The 2008 edition of the Chichester Harbour News and Guide is now available. This 84-page full colour booklet is packed with news features, information and local tide tables. It is an interesting and informative read for local residents and visitors alike. The Harbour News has the latest information on what is happening in Chichester Harbour and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) with reports from the Harbour Master and his staff and a number of feature articles.This year there is a break with tradition. Rather than having a boat on the front cover, there is a beautiful picture of the sand dunes at East Head. The photograph was taken by Emma Millen, it won second prize in the harbour photography competition held in 2007.The feature articles in this issue include ‘Lending a Helping Hand’. Local journalist Janet McMeekin has interviewed five people who help out around the harbour. The diversity of their work is interesting; it ranges from conservation tasks to archaeological digs and helping with school trips.Janet has also taken her family out to explore great days out in the AONB. They report back on their favourite activities which include cycling on the Salterns Way and taking a trip on Terror, the restored oyster boat.Regular contributor Ian McIntyre poses the question ‘What do Fishbourne Roman Palace, Warblington Castle and Tournerbury Fort have in common?’ He then delves back into the history of these scheduled ancient monuments and what they tell us about how people have used this area over the last 2,000 years.

The specifics of how climate change will affect those who live near or use Chichester Harbour is explored by AONB Officer Nicky Horter. Using a wealth of facts and figures, she looks at the changes we can already see, such as the appearance of seahorses, and also discusses what can be done in our area to address climate change.

Racing Tips this year has been written by Olympic sailing coach Mark Rushall. Mark explains the techniques required for sailing in waves. He claims that by following his advice, all dinghy racers will be ‘looking for the biggest wave’ rather than avoiding it!

As well as the regular articles giving updates on projects throughout the Harbour, there is an informative guide section and twelve months of tide tables. This is particularly useful for visitors and those new to Chichester Harbour.

The Chichester Harbour News and Guide is produced by Chichester Harbour Conservancy and has a circulation of 32,000 copies. If you pay harbour dues you will receive a copy shortly, otherwise copies will be available this weekend free of charge from the Harbour Office and local tourist information centres and libraries.

Chichester Harbour Conservancy
Harbour Office
Itchenor
Chichester
PO20 7AW
T: 01243 512301
W: www.conservancy.co.uk

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13/01/2008 by admin.

Trees for the Future A talk given by Jon Stokes of the Tree Council on ‘Trees for the Future’ on Monday 4 February, Brookfield Hotel, Emsworth, 7.30pm.
 The talk is being organised by the Emsworth Tree Wardens with support from the Brookfield Hotel.
 Please contact Frances Jannaway, Tel. 01243 430314, brettellf@ntlworld.com for more details.

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08/01/2008 by admin.

NEW FOOTAGE OF HARBOUR MARINE LIFE
 
 
 Exciting new footage of life under the waves of Chichester Harbour will be shown this month.
 
 The film was taken recently as part of a sub-tidal survey funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. A team of divers went down in various places in Chichester Harbour recording the species found and taking video. The survey revealed the wealth of life under our waves. The divers were surprised at the clarity of the water and were able to bring back good images of species including sea squirts, sea anemones, pipefish, sea slugs, oysters and crabs.
 
 The footage is being shown for the first time to the public on Wednesday 23 January. The video will be presented as part of the Harbour Creekies session at the Harbour Education Centre, Dell Quay. The ‘Creekies’ sessions are occasional events for those who want to l earn more about Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty from the warmth and dry of the Education Centre.
 
 This month the session will be led by Nicky Horter, Chichester Harbour’s AONB Officer. Nicky said ‘the footage reveals the variety of life in the harbour water’s. It is stunning to see all the plant life, fish and shellfish. The video shows what a fascinating marine environment we have.’
 
 The Harbour Creekies session starts at 10:30am. Entrance is £2 per person to include refreshments and will be on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis. If you are unable to make it, clips from the footage can be seen at www.conservancy.co.uk, follow the links from the homepage.
 
 
 Chichester Harbour Conservancy
 Harbour Office
 Itchenor
 Chichester
 PO20 7AW
 T: 01243 512301
 W: www.conservancy.co.uk
 E: harbourmaster@conservancy.co.uk 
 

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01/01/2008 by admin.

What’s happening in Nore Barn Woods January 2008
 Work days continued into December, including work to clear the central glade. This glade was created in 2002 to promote butterflies and wild flowers, and it is important that woody plants do not  recolonise the glade. Every 2 years the growth is cut to the ground. Volunteers continue to rake the paths clear of leaves and to remove litter. Thanks go to this willing band of workers.Tree works will be carried out in the woods in January by Havant Borough Council, and also the hedgerow will be trimmed. A small number of hawthorns will be coppiced to encourage regrowth, and avandalised oak will be pollarded (top growth reduced) to reduce the stress on the damaged trunk. Three birdboxes will be fitted as an experiment.

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