FIELDS OF DREAMS APPEAL SUCCESS

TWO NEW SITES ACQUIRED AND OVER £0.5 MILLION RAISED

The Chichester Harbour Trust is delighted to announce the successful completion of the Fields of Dreams appeal, raising over £525,000 to protect two special sites within the Chichester Harbour National Landscape. The two sites are at Chidham and Birdham, and purchase by the Trust ensures their permanent protection for the benefit of nature and the environment, and for the benefit of local communities and all Harbour visitors.

It was no mean feat to raise such a significant sum in under six months, working against tight deadlines to secure the purchase of the two properties, which together cover five acres of land, and bring the total area protected by the Trust to 380 acres across 17 individual sites. This land will now be safeguarded forever, providing peace of mind for local people that the sites will be cared for and kept both for nature, and for local people and visitors to enjoy, in perpetuity.

The first site is a 1.3-acre former flower nursery in Chidham, previously known as Alpha/Harbour Nurseries in Chidham Lane. The site is currently covered in disused glasshouses and storage structures, which will be cleared and restored to create a small community nature reserve and orchard. It is hoped that a wildlife haven will be created, encouraging farmland birds and butterflies, with wheelchair-friendly access for all to enjoy the experience. In addition, the site’s remote location will provide the opportunity to enjoy the dark skies with the stargazing opportunities it brings. The site will be named for the James family, to  recognise the previous owner, Sandra James, who has thus enabled this opportunity to come to fruition.

The second site is the Church Field at Birdham, a 3.2-acre community site in the centre of Birdham village. The land was secured by a group of residents 13 years ago to protect it for the village, and the meadows and woodland are enjoyed by the local community, including the church and scouts groups. The “Triangle” wildlife area is important for water voles – a critically endangered species – as well as numerous bird and insect species. The residents felt that the Chichester Harbour Trust would be the best long-term custodian for this land, ensuring that it will continue to be cared for, and by, the local community through a steering group including the Trust, Chichester Harbour Conservancy and the Manhood Wildlife and Heritage Group.

Work will now begin to plan for the future of these two new properties, in partnership with local residents and our partner organisations, particularly Chichester Harbour Conservancy, whilst continuing to develop future projects and ambitions to purchase further sites in the coming year. Securing funding for this work will be vital to securing future success.

Together, these projects help deliver the Trust’s goal of reversing the environmental decline of Chichester Harbour, by ensuring that these two sites are now protected forever, allowing nature to thrive and providing green spaces for all to enjoy.

The Chichester Harbour Trust received contributions from nine grant-making bodies and 24 individual donors to achieve our goal of securing these sites.

Nick Backhouse, Chair of the Chichester Harbour Trust said, “We are immensely grateful to all our generous donors, our project partners and our supporters who have helped us to reach this wonderful goal. Without their support we could never have achieved this incredible target”.

More information can be found on the Trust’s website about how to help support future work by making a donation at www.chichesterharbourtrust.org.uk

Image: Harbour Nurseries, Chidham, by Brian Bracher @Compass Aerial Photography