Change of speaker at this Friday’s meeting

Due to illness, we have had a last minute cancellation by our speaker for tomorrow’s meeting – it would have been Ella Garrud from Sussex Wildlife Trust on Marine Conservation.

Our speaker will now be Helen Poole (a well known local historian) who will be speaking on “Elizabethan Sussex”, so we hope that you will find this interesting, albeit a change of focus on the subject matter.

Late April and May events

On Wednesday 23 April we are doing another Bluebell Walk, led by Graham Tuppen. This time it is in Clapham Woods. We meet in the car park of Clapham Church at 10 am.

On VE Day (Thursday 8 May), the Pillbox will once again be open to visit from 10am to 3pm, with talks by Pete Coe at 11am and 2pm. We will also be joined by a radio enthusiasts group.

Further ahead, on Thursday 15 May, we are making our annual visit to Warnham Nature Reserve, in memory of Tricia Hall. We shall meet in the car park there at 10 am. Admission is £4 and, as with their snack bar, payment is by card not cash.

Then on Tuesday 27 May we have our visit to Crosslands Nursery, Walberton, meeting there at 6.30 pm. for a 2-hour guided tour. Cost is £5 per person, plus flower bunches can be bought for £3 each (all cash only). We’ll be taking names (and the £5 entry) at this Friday’s meeting, plus there will be more details on our website in due course if you can’t make that meeting. The nursery is situated in Barnham Lane, between Barnham and Walberton – post code BN18 0AX

Our Practical Work
We shall be doing some tidying up of the flower beds on the Village Green on  Thursday 1 May, at 10 am. With a good turn out of volunteers we can get it done in an hour. Please bring a trowel and/or secateurs.

Finally, our first beach clean of the year will take place on Sunday 18 May at 11am, meeting the east end of the Bluebird Cafe car park as usual. All equipment will be provided.

Annual General Meeting papers

In advance of our AGM to be held at our main meeting this coming Friday 25th from 2.30pm, please see the Agenda, 2024 AGM minutes and this year’s accounts below for your information.

AGENDA

  1. To receive the Chairman’s Report
  2. To approve the Minutes of the 2024 AGM (below)
  3. To receive the Treasurer’s Financial Statement
  4. To elect Officers and Committee members for 2025-2026

(The following will be nominated:

Chairman – Pete Coe; Vice-Chairman and Secretary – David Bettiss; Treasurer – Colin Annis. Other Committee members – Jane Hayman, Graham Tuppen, Stephen Abbott, Julie Wallace, Michael Pritchard, Ed Miller).

Other nominations are welcome.

  1. Any other business

David Bettiss (Secretary)

 

 

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON 26 APRIL 2024

  1. David Bettiss opened the AGM with a review of the year’s activities. It had been a good year for meetings, visits, walks and practical conservation work. All activiities had been well supported and membership was still high and approaching 900. He thanked all Committee members for their work during the year and looked forward to a full programme for 2024/25.
  2. The minutes of the April 2023 AGM were agreed.
  3. The Treasurer’s report was accepted with thanks . There was an underspend  of £79.56 23/24 financial year with a balance of £4820.77
  4. The following were nominated, and elected, as follows: Chairman – Pete Coe; Vice-Chairman and Secretary – David Bettiss; Treasurer – Colin Annis.

Committee members: Chris Green, Jane Hayman, Graham Tuppen, Diana Howard.

  1. There was no other business, and the AGM was closed.

 

Ed Miller (Secretary)

Accounts audited week beginning  31.03.2025

FCG Accounts for 1 April 24 – 31 March 25

Income                                                                      

Subscriptions                         1840.00                             

Talk entry                                   1311.00                             

Donations                                    491.20                              

Social Tkts. & Sales                     719.00

Christmas Card Sales                 602.50

Outing – Boat Trip                     731.00

                                                     —————

                                                    £5694.70

Expenses

Speaker Fees                              723.80                          

Tea Provision                               236.63                            

Card Printing                                342.00              

Hall Hire                                       454.75            

Web Site                                       104.40             

Insurance                                    134.40            

Bank Charges                               108.21              

Magazine Printing                    1554.40                         

Stationery                                       38.97

Social                                             743.40

Outing – Boat Trip                      705.00

Various :       Wreath                   20.00

                        Equipment             49.39

                        Water Testing       37.20         £221.68

                        Plants                    100.09                                                              

                        Christmas Tree      15.00

Donations:   St Barnabas          250.00

                       Gifts                          25.60        £350.60

                       Sea Scouts               25.00

                       CPRE Sussex            50.00

                                                    ————–

                                                   £5718.24          Therefore overspend for year £23.54

Balance @  1.4.24     £4820.77        @ 31.3.25    £4797.23

“What have Insects ever done for us?” presentation at our March meeting

As a well-respected and passionate conservationist, academic, author, television presenter and explorer, George McGavin’s interest in the natural world and especially insects began at a young age, conducting his own rock pool surveys along the beaches on the east coast of Edinburgh where he grew up. This fascination drove George to overcome a severe stammer and become an academic zoologist for 30 years, taking his degree at the University of Edinburgh, followed by a PhD in entomology at Imperial College, London. He then went on to research and teach at the University of Oxford.

George was also at one time the Assistant Curator of Entomology at Oxford University’s Museum of Natural History. Later becoming a popular and regular contributor to the BBC One Show, delighting viewers with his ecology reports and bug-life presentations. George has also presented and advised on many other television programmes including The Secret Life of Landfill and the multi award-winning documentary After Life: the strange science of decay.

George said that insects have model organisms for research into genetics, physiology, behaviour and ecology but their decline will have a very serious effect on wildflower meadow areas which are now very rare with a 97% decline in 50 years (rarer than a rainforest in fact). Also alarmingly in a province of China, farm workers are having to ‘hand pollinate’ pear trees through the decline of pollinating insects.

George hates the popular term ‘sustainable growth’ as he stressed ‘growth cannot possibly be sustainable’. He is especially proud of the fact that several insect species have actually been named in his honour.

A packed audience thoroughly enjoyed his professional and at times amusing presentation, and the afternoon was well and truly rounded off with the announcement by Stephen Abbott that that very morning news had come through that the Planning Inspector had dismissed the appeal by Persimmon Homes to build a large estate of 475 houses at Chatsmore Farm (north Goring Gap). This excellent news was celebrated by those present and the wider local communities as it would have destroyed a much needed Local Green Gap and affected the setting of the adjacent South Downs National Park, as well as causing all manner of local infrastructure issues.

Chatsmore Farm appeal dismissed

Yesterday, we delighted to learn that the Planning Inspector had dismissed the appeal by Persimmon Homes against the decision to refuse them planning permission to build a total of 475 new houses at Chatsmore Farm. This is a excellent decision for the local communities of Ferring and Goring on what would have been a very damaging development. So a big thank you to all those people who have submitted their objections, attended demonstrations and fought hard over a number of years. Also well done to Worthing Borough Council who have been forthright in standing up to Persimmon Homes. We now hope that this company give up on the idea of developing this land, and work with local communities to maintain it as a valuable natural habitat.

The decision notice runs to 17 pages, so far too long to replicate here, but below are some relevant short extracts:

Appeal Decision

Inquiry held on 17-18 and 24-26 September 2024 and 1 and 3 October 2024. Site visits made on 16 and 19 September 2024 by Y Wright BSc (Hons) DipTP MSc DMS MRTPI an Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State

Decision date: 28th March 2025

Appeal Ref: APP/M3835/W/21/3281813

Land North West of Goring Station, Goring-By-Sea, Worthing

  • The appeal is made under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 against a refusal to grant outline planning permission.
  • The appeal is made by Persimmon Homes Thames Valley against the decision of Worthing Borough Council.
  • The application Ref AWDM/1264/20, dated 7 August 2020, was refused by notice dated11 March 2021.
  • The development proposed is mixed use development comprising up to 475 dwellings along with associated access, internal roads and footpaths, car parking, public open space, landscaping, local centre (uses including A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, D1, D2, as proposed to be amended to use classes E, F and Sui Generis) with associated car parking, car parking for the adjacent railway station, undergrounding of overhead HV cables and other supporting infrastructure and utilities.
  • This decision supersedes that issued on 25 February 2022. That decision on the appeal was quashed by order of the High Court dated 1 August 2022.

Decision

  1. The appeal is dismissed.

Main Issues

  1. I consider the main issues are:
  • The effect of the proposed development on the Local Green Gap;
  • The effect of the proposed development on landscape including the setting of the South Downs National Park; and
  • Whether the proposed development would be in a suitable location having regard to other local and national planning policies and the need for housing.

I conclude that the appeal proposal would result in substantial harm to the LGG which would conflict with LP Policy SS5. It would also not accord with LP Policy SS1 on the basis that the development would be outside the BUAB, would not protect this remaining area of countryside and would substantially harm an important gap between settlements.

I conclude that the resultant harm from the proposal to the character and appearance of the local landscape would be substantial and would conflict with LP Policy SS1 which requires gaps and landscapes outside the BUAB to be protected, including those between settlements. It would also be contrary to LP Policy SS4 due to the adverse impact to the character of the area.

I conclude overall that the proposed development would result in moderate to modest harm to the SDNP over the lifetime of the development. Accordingly, this would not accord with LP PoliciesSS1 and SS4 and the Framework in this regard. It would also conflict with the duty in s11A of the 1949 Act, as it would not meet the legislative requirement to seek to further the statutory purposes of the National Park.

For the reasons given above, I conclude that the appeal proposal conflicts with the development plan when read as a whole. Whilst there would be some benefits to the scheme to which I have afforded weight, these material considerations, when taken together, do not indicate that the appeal should be determined other than in accordance with the development plan. I therefore dismiss the appeal.

Culberry Nursery at our February meeting

Members and visitors welcomed Martin Jarvis, the owner of Culberry Nursery in Angmering which has been in existence for over 75 years. Martin explained that in the beginning it was run by his parents as a market garden with a 99-year lease where they lived in a caravan on the site; this is where Martin’s sister was born. By the time Martin came along his parents had bought a house and had begun to grow mushrooms which they initially grew in old wooden fish boxes but this soon progressed to greenhouses. Good hygiene became crucial to prevent the introduction of bacteria or viruses to the crops – this also applied to the areas around the greenhouses. Interestingly at one time there were around 100 mushroom farms in West Sussex.

These days, Culberry Nursery only supplies bags of highly regarded mushroom compost and also grows and produces a wide variety of plants, including a large selection of herbs. These are all grown without the use of chemicals and instead beneficial bugs are used.  The Nursery staff attend many local Farmer’s Markets which produces an additional income and much to the delight of the many keen gardeners among the audience, Martin brought along a good selection of plants and herbs to sell during the break for refreshments.

Following a short break, Pete Coe and David Bettiss delivered February’s Nature Notes by showing some excellent photographs of wildlife along the Rife taken by member and keen wildlife photographer James King. There had been many reported signs of spring being sprung, including Snowdrops in Sea Lane, Crocuses on the Village Green, and Daffodils at the Community Orchard. Brent Geese, Chaffinches, Lapwings, Skylarks and a Song Thrush had all been spotted in and around the vicinity. David also delivered the sad news that the body of a deceased dolphin had been washed up on Ferring Beach.

To conclude the meeting Stephen Abbott advised the audience of recent planning news. There is still no decision by the High Court regarding Persimmon’s Appeal on Chatsmore Farm. The planning application for 3 houses at the back of Ferring Nursery remains undecided together with the Pool House proposed at ‘Mayfield’ Florida Road. Stephen also advised the Group of a new application to convert a garage into a self-contained annex at 8A South Drive in Ferring.

Hawking About – January 2025

Kevin, the head falconer from ‘Hawking About’ based in Arundel, gave over 100 members and visitors a wonderful opportunity to enjoy getting close and personal to several of his beautiful Birds of Prey, including a Barn Owl, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon and and two Harris Hawks.

Not only were the audience enthralled by the precision indoor flying displays of these magnificent birds but were also educated along the way by Kevin imparting his extensive knowledge and passion that he had gained over many years. This initially started as a hobby for Kevin and he gradually developed the skills to enable him to train a collection of Birds of Prey and he now attends some of the top tourist attractions in the South of England including Arundel Castle, Parham House, Petworth Park and Natural Trust sites giving talks and flying displays.

Busby the Barn Owl was the first bird to show off his flying skills and headed straight for the ceiling bars looking down on the audience. With encouragement from Kevin tempting him with a piece of fresh mouse, he swiftly returned straight to his perch to greedily claim his reward.  These birds have an average lifespan of 18 months in the wild and are the most widely distributed group of owls in the UK and they enjoy a variety of habitats, including open countryside, wetlands and roadside verges.

The next bird to show off its flying skills was a pretty Kestrel named Mo whose hunting skills are so well developed and with such razor-sharp vision, he is able to detect mouse urine in ultra-violet from the air but sadly 75% of Kestrels do not survive the winter in the wild.

Kevin then showed the audience the Peregrine Falcon, and these birds are the largest falcons in the UK with the male around a third smaller than the female. Their lifespan in the wild is only around 10 years but in captivity they can live for 25 years. Its distinctive feature is the black ‘moustache’ which contrasts with its white head.

A female Harris Hawk gave the last flying display of the day, which was shown alongside a male, and this formidable hunter is the only bird to hunt in a pack and will share out any food caught. They primarily hunt for rabbits, lizards, birds and occasionally carrion.

At the end of each flying session the birds were given the command of ‘Box’ by Kevin and amazingly each bird flew with great skill into its individual box – an astounding feat and could only be achieved by many hours of intense training and the special bond that is so evident between Kevin and his birds.

In Graham Tuppen’s absence, David Bettiss delivered the popular Nature Notes session following the usual break for refreshments. This month a Water Rail has been spotted swimming on the Rife north of the road bridge, also a number of Red-throated Divers and Red-breasted Mergansers have been seen off the coast at Goring Gap, alongside an amazing total of 220 Great Crested Grebes on the water. A member of the Group was fortunate enough to see an attractive little Weasel in his garden and it is believed there may be a small breeding colony somewhere along Ilex Way. While members were busy observing their gardens for the Big Garden Birdwatch there were reports of a Goldcrest, Greenfinch and a Song Thrush, although bird numbers were generally worryingly low. Various other sightings of a Heron, a Red Kite and a Buzzard together with a variety of Gulls plus 2 Skylarks were reportedly observed locally.

Stephen Abbott concluded the meeting by advising members there are still issues to be resolved regarding an additional property at 1, Sea Drive and also an application for a large garden structure has been submitted at 1, Birch Place in Ferring.

 

Ten Bees and the Stories they Tell – last meeting of 2024

James Power, the author of a recently published book named ‘The Bees of Sussex’, was welcomed to Ferring Conservation Group’s last meeting of the year to present an illustrated talk entitled ‘Ten Bees and the Stories they Tell’.

James told the Group that he spent much of his childhood exploring the wide-open spaces of Salisbury Plain. His interest began when he discovered the diverse range of wildlife around him there and this ultimately led to a career lasting almost 40 years in nature conservation.

James’s career included working for two different Wildlife Trusts, DEFRA, the Severn Gorge Countryside Trust and The National Trust – within Britain James has worked in Wiltshire, Yorkshire, Surrey, Shropshire and now in Sussex.

For 15 years James has studied bees and his talk gave a snapshot of the wild bee populations as they shift and adapt with some species thriving and others sadly becoming extinct.

With approximately 229 species of wild bees recorded in Sussex James selected just ten to demonstrate how climate change etc has been devastating to some and advantageous to other species. Two examples are Cullum’s Bumblebee which has now disappeared from the UK but still found in Europe and Asia, although also in decline in these areas. The Ruderal Bumblebee has had more success with a good distribution throughout the South and Southeast of England together with sightings in Northern Ireland.

After a break for tea and welcome mince pies, Graham Tuppen took to the floor to advise members and visitors about the recent wildlife seen in and around the village. Along with Brent Geese, Stonechats, the resident White Starling which is now four years old and a familiar sight in Ferring, Greenfinch and Blackcap had been spotted by members.

Along the Rife a Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, and a Great White Egret (the first known sighting of this the largest of the Egret family) were seen. Also, in a road near to the Rife a single Ring-necked Parakeet was spotted in a tree – these birds originally from Africa and Southern Asia are now widespread in the UK.

To conclude the meeting Stephen Abbott advised members of planning updates with applications still to be decided by Arun DC for the separate dwelling in the back garden of 1 Sea Drive and the additional two-bedroom extension for Greystoke Manor Care Home.

Shoreham Fort presentation – October 2024

At their October meeting, members of Ferring Conservation Group were treated to an excellent presentation by Gary Baines from the Friends of Shoreham Fort, entitled “Shoreham Fort – Past, Present and Future”. The aims of the Friends group are to conserve, maintain and restore the fort (which is designated as an Ancient Scheduled Monument) back to its 1857 former glory, so the talk fitted in well with our interests in the local built environment as well as the natural world.

They were told that the fort is now only one of two along the South Coast in anything like their original form – the other being at Littlehampton – and were built as a protection against possible French invasion during the Napoleonic period. It was manned by the 1st Sussex Artillery Volunteers and was designed to position six muzzle loaded guns giving good cover against attack. It was still operative beyond the turn of the century with one cannon remaining in place until the end of WW1, when the fort had been used for training and storage.

Prior to that in 1913, a Francis Lyndhurst (Grandfather of actor Nicholas Lyndhurst) brought film making to the fort, where at least 4 films were made within its confines. Subsequently during WW2, more guns were installed there but have since been removed, with only the original footings surviving.

Then into the 1970s and 80s, some restoration of the fort started, with the Friends group being launched later on in 2010, which really accelerated matters. Much restoration work has already been completed, for example on the Caponiers (or covered bastions) and also the gun emplacements, and also a Nissen hut from Chidham has been installed there, along with an atmospheric memorial WW1 training trench, constructed from 2800 filled sandbags.

For the future, it is hoped for a full restoration of the fort including the reinstatement of the barrack block, which would create a multi purpose community facility. There is no doubt that it is a fine local historical asset and a visit there is very much recommended.

 

Our Rivers – the work of the Environment Agency

Ferring Conservation Group had an interesting talk on Friday [27 September] from local resident Damon Block, a senior officer in the Environment Agency, about the organisation’s work managing the state of our rivers and coastal waters.  Damon had begun there as a Water Bailiff, supervising fishing on our local rivers – still an important task of the Agency and a source of income from rod licences.  Now he was looking after all the Sussex rivers from the Ouse to the Ems on the Hampshire border, for water quality, flood control and ‘abstraction’ by farmers for irrigation.

Water quality was gauged by the species of invertebrates of various kinds that could tolerate different levels of contamination and oxygen deprivation, as well as chemical testing. The problems arose not only from discharges and run-off but also from invasive plant species like Crassula and Himalayan Balsam, which could choke streams and destabilise banks.

The Ferring Rife, he said, was fairly easy to manage – quite a small catchment area, with few discharges, good flood defences, no fishing but plenty of wildlife. It had been good to see  Water Voles getting established there. Other rivers like the Arun and the Adur were more complex both in their needs and threats, and the opportunities they offered for better habitat creation and the reintroduction of species like the otters on the Rother tributary.

Sussex had a good stock of fish in its rivers – eels were abundant here while declining nationally, and Sussex sea trout were the biggest and best in England. He explained that river trout and sea trout were the same species but had chosen different ‘lifestyles’ at an early age. Scales from these fish were, under a microscope, like sections of trees – showing measurable growth rings, evidence of how and where they had lived and spawned, and another good indicator of water quality.

A very interesting and enjoyable afternoon.

(Report written by Ed Miller)