On Wednesday 25^th May 13 members of Ferring Conservation Group visited Ford Materials Recycling Facility (MRF). After signing in we were shown to our seats in the Education Centre where we received an informative and interesting talk about what happens to all the recyclates we place in our household bins.

The MRF is operated by Viridor on behalf of West Sussex County Council and is one of the most technological advanced MRF’s in the country. This automated process sorts and separates all the mixed recyclates into individual bales of quality materials which can then be manufactured into new goods and products. Viridor Waste Management Company employs approximately 3,500 staff and has 326 facilities nationwide.

Household recycling in West Sussex is delivered to Ford MRF via a network of transfer stations, where it is bulked up onto larger vehicles to reduce the need for more vehicles on the road. All waste received at the MRF is sorted and moved on and nothing goes to landfill.

We soon learned that the best way householders can help is to ensure that only the correct items are put in our recycling bins at home to allow the MRF to perform to its full potential. The wrong items can risk damaging the MRF and re-processors can only recycle materials that are clean, dry and loose.

To view the MRF in action we donned hard hats, which included an integrated sound system that also served to protect our ears, and walked through to the viewing platform. Here we were shown exactly how the processes are carried out from start to finish.

Once back at the Education Centre we were then tested on how much we had learned. After thanking our tutor for her help in educating and guiding us through the processes we promised to, in future, pay great attention to what we place in our household recycle bins.

I am delighted to inform you that it has just been officially announced that Ferring Conservation Group has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is fantastic news for the Group as it is the highest award a voluntary group such as ourselves can receive in the UK and it is the equivalent of an MBE.

I want to thank all of our members who have made this possible, and particularly those who have carried out the wide variety of voluntary tasks for which our Group is so well known, both within the village and further afield. I want to especially thank all of the Group’s committee members who have gone the extra mile to make the Group what is is today – without them, we would not have been successful in the award process.

We will receive the award from the Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex later in the summer, and this will include a certificate signed by Her Majesty The Queen. We also plan to have a small celebration at our next members meeting on Friday 24 June, starting at 7.30pm, which is at the St Andrews Church Centre on this occasion. Our guest speaker at that meeting will be Dr Dawn Scott from the University of Brighton, who is well known from her appearances on the BBC Springwatch programmes.

This really is a great day for Ferring Conservation Group, and I am very proud of what we have achieved.

David Bettiss

Chairman

Ferring Conservation Group

2/6/2016

The following planning application has just been refused by Adur and Worthing Borough Council:

Land South East corner of Amberley Drive/ Marine Drive at Goring – Change of use of land to caravan and camping site with 46 pitches. Erection of amenity block building comprising toilets and showers, laundry room, store, office and reception. Construction of vehicular crossover and provision of parking and bin storage area.

We are greatly reassured by Worthing BC’s decision on 1 June to refuse what would have been a major intrusion on a currently unspoiled area with much scenic and amenity value..

It was good to see over 400 objections from our members and other residents in Goring and Worthing displayed on the Council’s web site. Such a response strengthens the views of both Worthing and Arun Councils that the Gap should be kept free of any development.

On Saturday 7^th May 30 members of Ferring Conservation Group attended the second beach clean of 2016. The good weather made a welcome change as the last few beach clean events took place during torrential rain or very high winds. Around 15 bags of rubbish were collected including a Cossack hat amongst other litter which consisted of mostly small items such as string, plastic bottle tops, cigarette lighters, polystyrene, cans and glass bottles.

The extent of litter sadly appears to be on the increase and research suggests that there are nearly 2,500 items of rubbish for every kilometre on a UK beach. Quantities were found to have more than doubled since 1994 with plastic litter having increased by 140%. Plastic never biodegrades, it just breaks down into small pieces but does not disappear. Microplastic particles are now found inside filter feeding animals and amongst sand grains on our beaches. It is estimated that over 100,000 marine animals die every year from entanglement or ingestion of items discarded on our beaches or at sea. You might think that much of the litter found on beaches comes from the sea, but, in fact, a Marine Conservation Society report found that 37.4% of rubbish is left on our beaches by the public.

In the latest of the series of local natural history visits, a group of members ventured into Patching Woods near to the village of Patching in a hunt for bluebells (and other wild plants) and to listen for seasonal birdsong.

Straight away on entering the woods, they were greeted by an amazing vista of blue from the native bluebells which stretched as far as the eye could see, and all those on the trip led by Group committee member, Tricia Hall, agreed it was one of the best years they could remember for these iconic plants – probably due to the wet Winter and cool Spring weather. Not only bluebells were seen in the woods, but also the first showing of Wood Anemones and the first sighting there of some Early Purple Orchids spotted by an eagle eyed member. Some of the other plants seen in the woods or nearby were Dog’s Mercury, Ladies Smock, Greater Stitchwort, Wood Spurge, Ground Ivy and Goldilocks Buttercups amongst many others.

Orange Tip

Due to the cool and unsettled weather, the birds and butterflies were a bit on the quiet side but Peacock and Orange Tip butterflies were seen in a couple of locations with the latter doing a fly past right by the group.

Patching group photo

On the bird front, Chaffinch, Wren, Robin, Chiffchaff, Great Tit and Blue Tit were seen or heard in the woods, while a Buzzard was heard “mewing” overhead nearby with one being spotted sitting in a tree branch on the woodland fringe. Once out of the woods and into open downland, there were very good sightings of Yellowhammer and Whitethroat, as well as Skylarks singing overhead. The attention of the group was then drawn to the towering shower clouds approaching and so there was a hasty retreat to the parked cars. By the time, sanctuary was sought at the nearby pub for lunch and a drink, a heavy snow shower had arrived – not bad for the end of April!

The recent application by the Bluebird Cafe in Ferring to extend its operating hours and make other changes will be heard by the Arun DC Licensing Committee this coming Monday 25 April at 9.30am at the Glebelands Centre in Greystoke Road. This is the only item on the agenda.

Sadly, only the people informed by the Licensing Team that they have a “relevant objection” will be allowed to speak, but the hearing is still open to the public to attend. We would encourage as many members and local residents to be at the hearing if only to demonstrate to the Councillors who make up the Licensing Committee, the Licensing Team and indeed the licensee of the Bluebird cafe just how strongly we feel on the subject, and that there are genuine concerns in the local community.

UPDATE: The Committee agreed to issue the Licence and put two specifications in place. These were 1: to decant all alcohol into glasses with the exception of wine and 2: that the cafe be closed by 8.30pm daily and only reopened for private functions.

A party of Ferring Conservation Group members met up in Church Lane, Pagham in bright sunshine for a birdwatching visit led by Group member and bird expert, Clive Hope. The party made their way round to the North Wall of Pagham Harbour taking in all the birds en route, which started with a very obliging Curlew seen just a short distance away in a field.

In the harbour itself, two Great Crested Grebes were then seen, followed by views of amongst many others, the following – Little Grebe, Cormorant, about 8 Little Egrets, Grey Heron sitting on a nest in a heronry with at least one young visible, 4 Mute Swans seen taking off from the water (a spectacular sight and sound), Sparrowhawk, Buzzard (with some display activity noted), Kestrel, Grey Plover (about 50 in the harbour), Black-tailed Godwit (about 70 in the harbour and 30 roosting at a pool), about 40 more Curlew in a field, Redshank, many Gulls including 3 Mediterranean Gulls, Green Woodpecker, Cetti’s Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Linnet, Reed Bunting, 3 Swallows and a couple of House Martins just arriving in the country after migration.

After lunch taken in a cafe in the village, the group moved round to the Sidlesham Ferry Information Centre car-park and walked the circuit, taking in views of the Ferry Pool and embankment of the Harbour, just making it back to our cars as a sharp downfall of rain came through. Here, there were some good views of amongst others, a number of Avocets

A total of some 51 species was either seen or heard by at least one member of the group, which was an amazing total in just a few hours of bird watching and just shows what a great place Pagham Harbour is for anybody to visit to view our wildlife. It comes thoroughly recommended, and the Group hope to visit again soon.

The Bluebird cafe on Ferring seafront has applied for a ‘pub’ – type licence enabling alcohol to be sold between 10am and midnight six days a week (10.30pm on Sundays). At present, there is a ‘restaurant’ – type licence where alcohol can only be served with a substantial meal, indoors only, between 10am and 11pm.

Also the owner wishes to extend his operating hours for music and dancing until 12.30am six days a week.

Ferring Conservation Group values the facility of a beachfront cafe and restaurant in the village, as well as its occasional use for late evening private parties, but we feel that the possible advent of a pub and in effect a night club up to six days a week until 12.30am in this residential location is not sustainable. We consider that there would be unreasonable problems of noise and disturbance, an increase in anti social behaviour, more litter and an increase of late night traffic in the narrow unlit residential roads leading to and from the cafe.

We are objecting to this application, as is Ferring Parish Council. If you agree and would like to lodge your own objection, please do so to by e mailing  – licensing@arun.gov.uk. The reference number is 14483.

David Bettiss and Tricia Hall presenting a cheque for £600 to Caroline Roberts-Quigley Head of Fund Raising at Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice. This money was raised from the sale of Christmas cards, calendars and painted pebbles designed and painted by Tricia.

On a beautiful sunny, but cold February morning 30 volunteers met at the Glebelands Recreation Ground in Ferring with spades at the ready to plant our first Community Orchard. The orchard consists of 19 trees including 13 apple trees (all Sussex heritage varieties such as Tinsley Quince, Egremont and Alfriston), plus 2 pears, 2 plums and 2 cherry trees. On hand to give expert advice was John Coote from the Brighton Permaculture Trust. John generously gave his time and expertise to ensure the correct planting of the trees by some novice volunteers.

This orchard was supported by Ferring Parish Council in the form of a grant they awarded to the project. In addition Arun District Council gave their permission as the landowner.  Thanks also go to Community Parks Officer, Martyn Burkinshaw; Malcolm Linfield, the manager of Ferring Country Centre, along with Jamie and Andrew  from the Centre who joined 26 members of Ferring Conservation Group in the planting of the trees.

David Bettiss, Chairman of Ferring Conservation group said “The Ferring Community Orchard is a great example of the local community coming together to provide an excellent addition to the village scene. It will improve the biodiversity in the area. It will provide fruit in years to come and will be an area of interest for local people and visitors. I am very grateful to our individual members who have paid for the trees, in many cases as tributes to loved ones no longer here, and all the partners we have worked with closely to make the project a reality. I am very pleased to finally see all the trees planted and hopefully the orchard develop into the future”.

Community Orchards are a government initiative that helps communities to make the most of their local green spaces. Orchards were once widespread throughout the British Isles and until recent times every farm, country house and suburban garden had its own fruit trees. Pressure on land for new houses and roads and the importation of cheap fruit from abroad has caused the loss of many of these small orchards. The acreage of commercial orchards has declined rapidly too. Community Orchards help to revive an interest in fruit growing and provide a way of sharing knowledge and horticultural skills and stimulate us into growing food for ourselves again.

Jane Hayman