Around 60 members of Ferring Conservation Group were taken ‘Through the Seasons in a Sussex Woodland’ with a talk and beautifully illustrated slide show by Reg Lanaway. Reg spent his working life at Plumpton Agricultural College, and is still assisting there with environmental issues. The Plumpton estate includes ancient semi-natural woodlands, and it is in Brock’s Wood that Reg has spent much time indulging his love of natural history and especially that of birds. There Reg helped students of all levels to learn practical skills such as coppicing and hedge laying. Reg explained that periodic surveys are carried out by the College to benchmark the flora and fauna and the ancient woodland is actively managed to stimulate the regeneration of trees, plants and wildlife. For example, bluebells, primroses, sedges and marsh marigolds thrive in clearings where light can penetrate; and trees are regularly coppiced in order to generate new growth. Students are taught to lay ‘living’ hedges by slitting newly coppiced hazel stems. Birds are also keen to nest in coppiced areas and Reg showed us slides of robin, blue tit, song thrush and chiffchaff nests. The birdlife in the ancient woodland is constantly monitored. Nets are used to catch small samples of visiting birds, after which they are ringed for future identification. Amongst other birds regularly surveyed are the great spotted woodpecker, bullfinch, tree creeper, nuthatch, nightingale and jay. To conclude Reg showed us slides of the woodlands around Plumpton College throughout the four seasons.

After tea Tricia Hall opened her Nature Notes with news of large numbers of goldfinches moving west. A Short Eared Owl had also been seen on three consecutive mornings along the seafront, as well as at least 62 Little Egrets sitting in trees in the Kingston Gorse area and a Kingfisher near the road bridge at the top of the Rife.

Greg Plenty, a RHS and group member talked to us about ‘Gardening for Bees’. Greg said that although a recent scientific study by the RHS concluded that ‘native or near native’ garden plants saw the greatest abundance of pollinators there was conflicting advice where other studies recommended that a variety of plants from all over the world should be grown to create a garden with plants blooming from early May to late October.

Ed Miller followed with planning news that Beehive Cottage had finally been demolished and that Globe Estates (Southern) Ltd will probably appeal their refused planning application for a block of 10 apartments on the site. Peugeot have appealed the decision of Arun DC for the refusal of a storage/distribution facility on Hangleton Nursery land.

Laurie Jackson from the Sussex Mammal Group opened our September meeting with her fascinating, illustrated ‘Introduction to Bats’ presentation. Laurie told us there are over 1,100 species of bats in the world and they are the only true flying mammal. They play an essential part in the natural world and their presence indicate a healthy environment.

Our smallest bat is the pipistrelle weighing between 4 – 7g with a wing span of 18 – 25cms and our largest bat is the noctule which can weigh up to 40g with a wing span of 33 – 45cms.

In the UK our bat populations have declined dramatically as many of their roosting sites and feeding grounds have been destroyed to make way for other changes in land use. Also pesticides have killed many of their insect prey.

Thankfully, at last, all British bats enjoy protected status.

In the second half of our meeting we were presented with an update on the Rampion Wind Farm by Chris Tomlinson the project’s Development Manager. Chris confirmed that offshore work had commenced last week for the first foundation installation and that great effort would be made to replicate the seabed. The same care and attention will be given to the onshore project by ensuring that hedgerows, trees and chalk grassland is re-instated or replanted. This part of the project has already commenced, working from South to North from Brooklands Pleasure Park and eventually ending at Twineham in April 2016.

In her Nature Notes Tricia Hall commented that she had spotted 2 water voles at the far south end of the River Rife.

Stuart Card a Conservationist and Qualified Bird Ringer from Warnham Local Nature Reserve (Warnham LNR) opened our July meeting with a fascinating and informative talk about the ‘Captive Breeding and Re-introduction Programme of Harvest Mice’ at Chesworth Farm, Horsham. To our delight and to give our members the perfect photo opportunity Stuart brought along a breeding tank complete with several beautiful harvest mice.

Harvest Mice are Britain’s smallest mammal and weigh between 4 to 6 grams and are only between 50 to 70 mm long. They are the only British mammal to have a prehensile tail which enables them to be incredibly acrobatic. Harvest Mice have many predators including stoats, mink, weasels, foxes, sparrow hawks, barn owls, crows, pheasants and domestic cats.

This breeding programme was established in 2008 when it was realised that Harvest Mice were at risk due to modern farming methods, alterations in sowing practices, pesticides failing to control invasive grasses and climate change creating wet seasons. Harvest Mice cannot warm themselves once their coats are damp. Supported by Friends of Warnham LNR and Horsham DC the programme runs across 4 sites and involves 3 different Public Organisations and 1 private collector.

Harvest mice can breed before they are 1 year old and can produce 3 to 7 litters a year. Their mating season is between May and October. The gestation period is 19 days and litters can range from 1 to 8 young.

Breeding tanks are set up using sawdust, meadow hay, millet sprays for climbing and Finch Wicker baskets to offer additional nesting sites to help emulate a natural environment. Wild bird seed mix and fruit pieces are provided as food sources.

The breeding procedure always starts with 2 males and 2 females in one tank; the dominant female will conceive first. When this occurs the subordinate female is immediately removed. As soon as the subordinate male is identified he must also be removed. The successful breeding pair can be kept together for up to 7 litters. If they have any more than this, the female may die giving birth.

After a break for tea Tricia Hall updated us on the walk on Highdown Hill that took place on 2nd July. Among other species the Yellow Rattle flower was in evidence. This annual plant thrives in grasslands and as its name suggests if you brushed past it in the height of summer you will hear the tiny seeds rattle in their pods. Some excellent photos were taken of the Marble White butterflies as they were nectaring. Tricia brought to our attention that the vegetation had been cut back along the banks of the River Rife leaving only about 10 per cent for wildlife activity.

Ed Miller updated our members with the news that the HM Planning Inspector had asked for the Arun DC Local Plan to be revised to include an extra 180 houses to be built per year over the next 15 years. If an acceptable proposal is not forthcoming then the Local Plan will be rejected and Arun DC will have to start again from scratch. This will leave the door open for developers to pursue planning applications on other sites in the area.

Ed then concluded by announcing that our Group Secretary, Carol Dyball, was stepping down from committee duties after 15 years to concentrate on her move away from Ferring. Ed thanked Carol for all her hard work over the years and wished her the very best in her forthcoming move.

For this month only, Ferring Conservation Group held their June meeting at the pleasant St Andrews Church Centre in the village, and were treated to an excellent informative illustrated talk by Jacob Everitt on the topical subject for Ferring of Coastal and Estuarine Birds.

Jacob is the Head Warden at the Warnham Local Nature Reserve near Horsham, and as well being a very effective communicator, he is a very talented photographer and in his spare time is also a bird ringer for the British Trust for Ornithology.

He took us through a journey of many of the birds that we are likely to see on the Sussex coast, as well as our nearby estuaries. He also highlighted the best places to see these birds in the county, but did include the special RSPB reserve of Snettisham in Norfolk, where it is possible to witness the amazing sight of up to 50,000 knot flying close overhead when a high tide forces them on to the reserve lagoons.

Back in Sussex, he described some of the more interesting birds to be seen, such as Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Brent Geese, and Purple Sandpipers, and also why they spend at least some of their lives here. One of the more interesting facts for the wading birds was that each square metre of estuarine mud contains up to 200,000 Kcal – the equivalent of some 77 Mars bars!

Finally, he recommended the best sites to visit to see the birds in their natural environments, and these from east to west were – Rye Harbour, Cuckmere Haven, Seaford Head, and Pagham Harbour, not forgetting the coast off Ferring and the nearby Rife, where we do see a decent selection of these birds on our door step.

In the second half of the meeting, amongst other features, Tricia Hall in her regular Nature Notes, updated members with photographs on the wonderful sight of many Early Marsh Orchids in the Rife lagoon areas, as well as a crop of Flax now flowering on the East Preston Gap, giving it a light blue hue.

Tom Simpson from the Sussex Wildlife Trust found himself among sympathetic and like-minded people when he gave an interesting and informative presentation to Ferring Conservation Group at their May meeting on the ‘Wild about Worthing’ project. This new project aims to reconnect people with nature and to encourage the joining up of habitats to help wildlife flourish and create a Living Landscape.

The project is supported by a grant from the Lottery Fund and promotes identifying and recording wildlife that lives around Worthing. Surveys will be launched over the next 2 years and focus on 7 target species ranging from bumblebees, butterflies and stag beetles to slow worms, swifts, hedgehogs and the ‘mermaid’s purse’ egg cases of the skates, rays and cat sharks. The findings can be recorded online and will link in with the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre.

There are many environmental educational wildlife events that aim to encourage young people to enjoy being outdoors and to be inspired by nature. Whereas people of all ages can join in with ‘wildlife gardening projects’ and also learn to appreciate that our streets, parks and school grounds can offer habitats for a whole range of species.

After a break for tea Tricia Hall delivered her welcome Nature Notes and informed us that a colourful hoopoe bird had been spotted in a garden in Midhurst Close. She then showed us a photograph of a pretty whitethroat sitting in a tree near the river Rife, one of several that had been spotted in the same area. Only a few butterflies had been seen due to the cold weather in May but wildflowers such as buttercups in Sea Lane and cow parsley and the yellow flag iris on the banks of the river Rife were particularly attractive this year. Tricia then thanked the Group for their donation of a willow tree in memory of her husband, Mike Hall, which was planted in a field adjacent to her house.

Ed Miller commenced his planning update with the welcome news that no planning applications for housing had been received recently by Arun DC. Foschini Nursery have organised 2 Open Days on 29th and 30th May for the public to view their proposal for 6 mobile homes plus farm shop and café, including the conversion of an agricultural shed to accommodate the manager of the new complex. Ed also advised our Group that the legal process for the banning of overnight parking along the seafront had commenced.

Michael Brown then gave us news that permission had been granted for the onshore work for the Rampion Windfarm would begin in 2015 and the offshore work in 2016. Chris Tomlinson, Eon’s project manager, has been invited to talk to our Group at our July meeting.

Our chairman David Bettiss concluded the meeting with dates of 2 forthcoming nature walks. Shingle beach walk at Shoreham to identify plants and fauna on Monday 22nd June meet at 2pm at Shoreham Fort car park. Highdown Hill to identify butterflies meet at 2pm in car park on Thursday 2nd July.

Our April meeting incorporated and commenced with the group AGM where the existing committee members were re-elected unopposed.The meeting then received an update of planning issues from Ed Miller. A proposal to improve Ferring Village Green and build a play area for older children was the subject of discussion between Arun District Council, Ferring Parish Council and residents, including local children, during the past 6 months. The original proposal has been modified after further discussion and now includes a small indicative football pitch with goal posts, a large basket swing and climbing wall including a net, tower, slide and fireman’s pole. There will also be a cable run approximately 30 metres wide by 3.5 metres high. This play area will be on trial for 1 year but it is unclear when the play equipment will be installed. Ed went on to report that the planning application for 1 x 4-bedroom house at Hangleton Equestrian Centre has been refused but the application for a 1 x 3-bedroom house in Ferring Lane had received conditional approval.

News of wildlife in the area concluded our meeting with sightings of Small White, Brimstone, Peacock and Tortoiseshell butterflies. Also many of our summer visitor birds have arrived, including Swallows, Swifts, Sand Martins, Blackcap, Wheatears, Winchats and Whitethroat. An unusual sight was witnessed by 2 of our members when around 400 Brent Geese gave a flying display just above the shoreline oblivious to several children playing at the water’s edge. Many Birds of Prey have been evident recently with 8 Buzzards spotted at the Kingston Gap plus Red Kites and a pair of Kestrels.

Dr Margaret Pilkington, Emeritus, University of Sussex and author, opened our March Group meeting with an illustrated talk on Wildflower Meadows. She began by taking us all back to by-gone days when meadows were plentiful but sadly the majority have been lost in recent decades with changes in agricultural practices and the spread of built development.

By using the most common type of meadow Dr Pilkington explained how, with the help of the National Vegetation Classification (NVC), we can understand the unique collection of plants present and how we can help to ensure the survival of this special and vulnerable habitat with the Biodiversity Action Plan. The NVC is the culmination of a 15-year project to identify all the different types of vegetation in Britain. For example the most common meadow plant is the Common Knapweed Community, known as MG5 and also includes Ribwort Plantain, Cocksfoot, Red and White Clover and Bird’s Foot Trefoil.

Managing a meadow appropriately will, over time, help to increase the range and number of flowers that it supports, whereby increasing the quantity and quality of foraging habitat for bees. This will include cutting the meadow in late summer and removing the clippings and avoiding the application of chemical fertilizers. All is not lost if farmers can be given incentives to move away from intensive farming practices and allow hay meadows to play their vital role in effective land management.

After tea Tricia Hall gave us many examples of the welcome signs of spring during her Nature Notes presentation. Coltsfoot had been spotted growing beside the lagoons by the River Rife, also Celandines and Wild Cherry were evident in and around the village as well as Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies. Several birds of prey were seen circling overhead plus a Reed Bunting by the Rife and a Common Seal was witnessed a little out to sea off the Goring Gap together with Brent Geese flying just above the shoreline in the same area. A medieval herb bed has been established on the Village Green to commemorate 1250 years of a settlement in Ferring which includes herbs that were used for culinary, medicinal, dyeing and strewing purposes.

Ed Miller followed with an update on planning issues and advised us there were 2 new similar applications from the Peugeot Garage in respect of their previous refused submissions.

Our chairman David Bettiss concluded the meeting by thanking all of the participants that helped in the recent River Rife ‘Clear Up’ and the construction of the village green ‘Medieval Herb Garden’.

Phillip Ellis gave us an informative talk on Water, Rivers, Fish and Trees. With over 40 years’ experience in managing the green estate within MOD, Phillip now specialises in Arboriculture and Angling.

Phillip began by emphasising the importance of Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) to maintain the integrity of the tree population and how home owners can contribute by taking responsibility for trees on their land. Phillip highlighted the many benefits that trees bring to our environment but stated that the threat to our forests and woodlands has never been greater and our biosecurity practices must be upheld.

Phillip is also a trustee of the Salmon and Trout Association and emphasised the need for healthy water and explained that excessive water abstraction and diffuse pollution are two of the major reasons why three quarters of our rivers, lakes and coastal waters are classed as unhealthy. For instance local watercress growers are allowing phosphates, which are used as a fertilizer, to leak into the River Itchen and this clouds the water and in turn allows algae to thrive. There is a need for the Environment Agency to increase their monitoring, and although things are improving, there is still a long way to go.

After tea Tricia Hall gave us a taste of spring by informing us that some woodland plants, catkins and frogspawn had been spotted locally.

Planning news from Ed Miller concluded the meeting. New applications had been submitted for a 4xbedroom house at Hangleton Equestrian Centre, a 3xbedroom house in Ferring Lane and a licence for corporate events/weddings at Highdown Vineyard.

For our first meeting in 2015 we welcomed Dr Robert Hutchinson, a church archaeologist, who talked to us about the work of the Churches Conservation Trust in Sussex. He explained that the CCT is a registered charity established in 1969 by Parliament and the Church of England to look after the most important historic churches no longer needed for regular worship. CCT carry out between 40 to 80 repair and maintenance projects a year and have saved over 340 churches, 7 of which are in West Sussex. St Botolph’s Church stands on a slight rise above the river Adur and although today it appears almost isolated, 700 years ago it was at the heart of a busy port. Since Tudor times the church has served a tiny farming community. The parish united with Bramber in 1526.

Members then received a presentation by Julie Toben and architect Leeza Aldis-Hobbs on proposals for the new facility for WADARS at Hangleton Lane. Julie and Leeza explained that their plans were at a very early stage but they were keen to secure the support of our Conservation Group as their plans develop.

Ed Miller updated the meeting on planning issues although there were no developments on the issue of the Northern and Southern Gaps.

Eileen Godfrey announced that South Downs Film Makers were planning to make a film this year to commemorate the 1250th anniversary of a settlement in Ferring.

The meeting was concluded by news of wildlife sightings and dates for our diaries.

A packed hall greeted Michael Blencowe who gave an interesting and highly entertaining presentation on ‘Butterflies and Moths of Sussex’. Michael represents the Sussex branch of Butterfly Conservation which is a registered charity dedicated to the conservation of butterflies and moths. The branch holds regular outdoor events across the county and manages the Butterfly Conservation Reserve at Park Corner Heath. It advises landowners how to conserve and protect butterflies and moths and it also collects and compiles records of sightings in Sussex.

Michael explained there are some 2,480 species of butterflies and moths in the UK although some are migratory. The Privet Hawk is one of the largest moths with dark brown and cream wings, and a pink and black-banded body. The Hawk-moths are recognisable by their large, torpedo-shaped bodies. The Silver Spotted Skipper butterfly is often seen locally around Long Furlong and it is one of the few species that is increasing in numbers.

Michael has appeared on the BBC’s Springwatch programme with Chris Packham and (to his delight) Michaela Strachan, as an authority on moths and butterflies.

Ed Miller gave an update on local planning issues. The Hangleton Nursery application has been re-submitted with additional information. The proposal is to create a large car park for 100 vehicles on land currently designated as agricultural with frequent deliveries by huge transporters. There is no news on the Goring Gap issue but the Ferring Neighbourhood Plan is going to referendum on 10th December.

Tricia Hall concluded the meeting by informing us that a Peacock butterfly was seen in the village that day.