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

24 members met by the beach huts for an extra beach clean following stormy weather with high tides. A lot of wood had been deposited on the beach togather with plastic buoys and old lobster pots. It was extremely windy making it difficult to pick up tiny bits of paper and plastic so we concentrated on the larger objects. Sue and Tony Palmer did sterling service dragging the trolley which was piled high with rubbish.

Several of the plastic buoys were covered in Goose Barnacles, strange relatives of the prawn and crab family, the Crustacea. They start life as little shrimp-like creatures which then attach themselves to floating objects like wood, plastic or the bottoms of boats. Here they develop into stationary filter-feeders with white shiny plates covering their bodies which hang from a stalk. We even found a plastic water bottle with Goose Barnacles growing out of it, looking like a strange bunch of flowers! In fact the bottle would have been floating upsidedown with the Barnacles hanging underneath.

Several members also took part in an improptu ‘treasure hunt’ to find 12 objects of animal or vegetable origin which had been stranded on the beach.

Tricia Hall, on behalf of the committee, thanked Jenny Grixti and Sue Palmer for organising the event and she thanked so many  members for turning out on such a wild and windy day. Four more beach cleans are planned for the summer.

Tricia Hall

At 0945 on Tuesday morning it was grey, damp and chilly and it didn’t
bode well for our planned walk to Michelgrove lane but by the time the
seven of us had assembled under the trees near Michelgrove House and set
off, the skies gradually cleared so by 1100 it was near cloudless and
very pleasant.
We soon saw one of our target birds, a Red Kite, wheeling over the
countryside to the east and it was later joined by a second.
Continuing up the Lane into the Angmering Park Estate we crossed a stile
on to springy downland grass with the sound of Skylarks above us and
soon after the croaking call of Ravens. A pair were having a tussle with
two Buzzards. Up to five of the latter were later in the air together
over Blackpatch Hill.
In or near the leftovers of a maize crop, about 15 Yellowhammers, 30
Chaffinches, two Meadow Pipits, eight Red-legged Partridges and several
Pheasants all showed well in the bright light. Nearby, a Corn Bunting
sat singing on a fence only a few yards from us.
We descended through a wood on the eastern slope of Harrow Hill in warm
sunshine along a steep and rather sticky path emerging in a valley with
a horse training gallop in the bottom (unoccupied). Another distant Kite
was over the South Downs Way.
Gulls and Rooks were abundant on the last leg across the field back to
the road and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen when we returned to the
cars.
In all, some 26 species of birds were noted – better than expected when
we had set forth from Ferring!

Clive Hope

Please see below our formal response to the Arun DC consultation on the much loved Tamarisk trees on Pattersons Walk, which has been sent to Martyn Burkinshaw at Arun. If you feel strongly as we do that these trees should be preserved, then please send your own response to him in writing at the Parks Department, Bognor Regis Town Hall, Clarence Road, Bognor Regis PO21 1LD by 1st Jan – please include your name and address for weighting purposes. If you are unable to send a letter as above, then you can e mail via parks@arun.go.uk, but still include your name and address please. The reasons for this consultation are in the recent Parish Flyer.

As the Chairman of Ferring Conservation Group, I am writing a formal response to the consultation on the Pattersons Walk Tamarisk trees in Ferring.

Having been present at our meeting last Friday (Nov 27), you will be very much aware of the strong feelings of our membership that the trees must be maintained in their present form as we feel that they form an integral and important part of the Ferring beach scene which have been there for many years. They act as an effective wind break and a very valuable habitat for wildlife, especially birds who use them for rest, roosting and as a source of food. We accept that there has to be some regular maintenance to stop them growing out of control and blocking the footpath or the raised concrete blockhouse area. We feel that this should be light cutting and would prefer this to be by hand rather than by large machinery, although we accept that the financial constraints of the local authority may mean that the latter is the preferred option.

We would stongly urge that the maintenance is decided by the opinions of the majority of Ferring residents rather than by the odd one or two who presumably back on to the area and may feel that they have a vested interest. We would also urge that these residents are dissuaded from taking the matter into their own hands and cutting back the trees themselves as has happened recently. This might be by writing to the few people involved and reminding them that these public space trees are there for the benefit of all, and not for them to do as they see fit without any prior permission from Arun DC.