Water, Rivers, Fish and Trees

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 practises 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.

Jane Hayman

See the latest update on the future of Goring Gap on our Planning News page on this website – it is very informative.

Some events during March and April to note down in your diary as follows:

Sat 21st March – we have 2 separate events on the Rife and the Beach at Ferring. At 11am, we will be holding our annual clean up of the banks of the Rife. Meet in the Bluebird Cafe car park. Pickers, gloves and bags will be provided, and we will hopefully finish up at the Country Centre cafe for a hot drink etc. Then at 4.30pm, we have a guided walk by Tricia Hall out to the Black Rocks off Kingston at low tide to look at the flora and fauna. Wear wellies and bring a small bucket to put any samples in. It is quite a walk, so be prepared!

Tuesday 28th April – visit to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Arundel. Meet at the centre at 10am. Cost will be £10.30 for adults and £8.10 for concessions- this will include a guided tour by the Grounds Manager, Paul Stevens. You can spend as long as you like there, but you will need to book your place in advance – contact David Bettiss on 01903 246304 or d.bettiss@btinternet.com There is much to do there, including a Wetland Discovery Boat Safari, see the wildfowl collection, feed the ducks and geese, visit the hides to watch wild birds etc. Good food is available in the cafe.  It will be good day out.

Amid some dark and gloomy days an unexpected break in the weather provided an ideal opportunity for members of Ferring Conservation Group to enjoy a walk on the South Downs around Burpham. Under a clear blue sky and with only a light breeze around 14 members set out in search of raptors and downland birds. We were soon rewarded when several Greylag geese together with Bewick swans were sighted on the plain foraging for food. A Buzzard with particularly dark brown plumage was spotted at the top of a tree surveying the scene.

As our walk progressed we were fortunate to also observe a Mistle thrush, some Linnets and Skylarks along with several Grey partridge whose numbers have increased significantly under the ‘Norfolk Estate recovery project’. As we headed back towards our starting point we were rewarded with the sight of six Buzzards circling in the distance and a hungry Kestrel hovering at the edge of a nearby field. As the sky darkened and the rain made its inevitable appearance the group promptly made its way to the lunchtime venue.

The next Group guided visit  – this time to the Shoreham and Lancing area – will take place on Thursday 5th February, and will be led by member and experienced birdwatcher, John Dixon who will help us to identify a variety of coastal and river birds.

We’ll meet at 10.30am at the Harbour Way free car park on Shoreham Beach which looks across towards the Lifeboat Station (not the Fort car park, where you have to pay). There will be four separate parts to this visit – 1. Shoreham Harbour entrance ( as above)  2. Widewater lagoon, Lancing  3. Shoreham Airport and the River Adur  4. Cuckoo Corner (north of the A27 on the Botolphs road)

We’ll be moving between the 4 locations by car, so you’ll need to arrange a lift if you don’t have a car. Bring binoculars, and be sure to wear suitable clothing for the day, as the locations can be exposed to the weather.

The Ferring Neighbourhood Plan Referendum which took place on 10 December returned an overwhelming 82.66% YES vote in favour of the plan, and the 3 Community Right to Build Orders (CRTBOs) were also passed with well over 70% in favour of these. We understand that the CRTBOs were the first in the country to be approved. There was a strong turn out by residents of Ferring.

The YES vote for the 3 CRTBOs was as follows:

new Community Centre/ Village Hall site – 78.8%

allotment site behind Henty Arms – 75.8%

Village Hall site – 71.1%

This was an excellent result for the village of Ferring and its residents, and we should all be very grateful to Ferring Parish Council for all their hard work, ably led by Chairman Carole Robertson, as well as others who have worked on the plan. We should also thank all those Ferring people who voted for it.